Gurugram: In the presence of high security, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Tuesday removed encroachments from Jharsa bund. The bund that dates back to the British times had seen encroachments in terms of shops and makeshift houses all of which was cleared.
According to the officials, the warning was given to the people. The officials of the civic body have also mentioned that they will now beautify the area, the works of which have already started in the ward-wise special campaign.
The present situation of water-logging across different parts of Gurugram highlights that another opportunity may be lost in enhancing the groundwater levels that are falling at an alarming rate. One of the major reasons cited for the wastage of water is the depletion of ponds and bunds or small water dams. For a city that used to have plenty of ponds and bunds, today most of them are encroached and built-up areas. Most of the bunds that have now become extinct were set up during the British times.
Last year, the District Forest Department collaborated with a citizen welfare body to revive the 5-kilometre Wazirabad bund. In addition to desilting and increasing the water capacity, the emphasis is also being put on augmenting the green cover around
the area.
"Most of the residents today are facing water crisis in their areas because there was no action when the bunds and ponds that are effective forms of the aquifer were encroached and allowed to go extinct," said Ravi Mehrotra, a city resident.