Falling groundwater level poses threat to high-rises in the city

Depleting groundwater level has increased the possibilities of cave-ins, putting many highrises, including residential and industrials units, in this city on the risk of collapse, experts have warned.

Depleting groundwater level has increased the possibilities of cave-ins, putting many highrises, including residential and industrials units, in this city on the risk of collapse, experts have warned.

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They said the groundwater level which has been decreasing at an alarming rate creates soil pores and this could result in cave-ins and collapse of buildings.

The groundwater level in Udyog Vihar, DLF Phase 3, Cyber City and Huda Sector 18 is depleting and in the last 15 years the water level of these areas has come down by 70 meter.

Udyog Vihar and Sector 18 house nearly 500 small-scale industries, providing livelihood to thousands of people.

Cyber City is known as financial hub and DLF Phase - 3 is one of the posh areas.

BS Yadav of the Haryana Groundwater Cell told Hindustan Times: “We can only guide people. They should understand the gravity of the situation. The pores which have erupted in soil has created vacuum and could result in cave-in of soil and the structures on that land could fall down.”

Retired architect engineer, Public Works department (Haryana), T D Aneja said: “Water gives stability to soil and there are chances that if water level goes down and pores erupts in soil that could result in caving in of soil and it would of course affect the construction of the building too.”