Gurugram staring at water crisis?

Gurugram: Official analysts have already predicted that at the present rate, Gurugram will run out of the water and face the situation as bad as in Chennai.

To understand the dire consequences, Gurugram needs to look at neighbouring Mewat where the situation is only getting worse.

According to the official survey, in just four years, the groundwater water levels have fallen from 250 feet to 1,200 feet. The situation is not expected to improve soon as the most backward district in the country is only dependent upon the groundwater for their daily water needs.

Not only is there no canal water to supply water to the residents of Mewat, there has also ben less effort done by the government in ensuring piped water supply to over five lakh residents.

The difficulty lies in not only giving water supply but also ensuring that the water is clean, hygenic and fit for consumption.

Owing to large scale industrialisation around the area there are now complaints of harmful chemicals getting deposited in underground water.

All this has also resulted in a large number of residents in Mewat contracting deadly diseases like Cancer.

Political campaigns have now already begun that how the inability to bring back the waters from Satluj Yamuna Canal (SYL), Haryana's legal dispute with neighbouring Punah has led to water woes for South Haryana.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed concern over the falling groundwater reserves in Gurugram and the other district of South Haryana. He mentioned that to tackle the issue not only will the new water bodies be created but there will also be efforts to restore the dying ponds in the city.

He also emphasised on the importance of creating check dams and water harvesting systems. He highlighted that his government was working in how the canal water can be diverted to areas of South Haryana which for long has been facing with the problem and has been dependent on the groundwater for their needs.

Not only the Chief Minister various top institutions like the National Green Tribunal has raised a warning on the falling ground water reserves of the city.

In 1974, where the groundwater in Gurugram can be traced at six meters below the ground level today has fallen down to levels of 40 meters.