700 borewells sealed as per NGT order

New Delhi: More than 700 illegal borewells have been sealed in Delhi following a National Green Tribunal order in January this year, leading to water scarcity in various parts of the national Capital and complaints from area residents.

According to SDM officials, a total of 718 borewells have been sealed so far. There are nearly 5,000 illegal borewells, according to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Dwarka, Vikaspuri and Janakpuri are among the areas where borewells have been sealed. The move has led to water scarcity, despite the DJB sending filled water tankers there.

The Delhi government's current water policy commits 20,000 litres of free water per month to each household.

On January 30, the NGT directed the government to seal all unauthorised borewells in Delhi within three months.

Explaining the NGT order, Manisha Saxena, divisional commissioner, said the sealing of borewells began from north-west Delhi, where chloride concentration in water was alarming. "So they asked DJB to mark them red, indicating that the chloride content is very high," she said, adding, the authorities will seal all illegal borewells that are marked red.

Saxena, however, said the sealing process was "difficult" because when the officials started sealing the borewells, the season had started and the Board was facing reduced water supply.