To prevent water scarcity, DTCP appoints senior officials to monitor key projects in Gurugram

Gurugram: To set an example the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram issued a challan on Virat Kohli for using the drinking water to wash the cars. The fine may be paltry but it again raised the grim reality of immense water crisis in the city.

According to an official estimate, Gurugram by 2024 can completely run out of the water if immediate measures has not been taken.

To deal with the major challenge the DTCP has appointed senior officials that will personally monitor the various schemes like rainwater harvesting, pond rejuvenation and sewage treatment plant programs.

Moreover, the pits for water harvesting will be one of the key parameters for obtaining the occupation certificate.

It is interesting to note that the law was first formulated in 2011 but was not implemented strictly by the officials.

Sources indicate that the Chie Minister has taken cognisance of the challenge of falling groundwater reserves in the city and have asked the officials to implement the

move.

The district administration had also directed various private schools that have a large area to create water harvesting pits.

However, this action was also not followed up. Besides recharging the water levels, rainwater harvesting pits is also expected to improve to drainage systems of the city that again is proving to be a major civic challenge in the Millennium city.

The impact of water crisis cannot be felt more than the residents of Gurugram where in the past decade 82 per cent of the groundwater reserves have been depleted.

It is estimated that over half of the residents get their water supply through borewells groundwater extraction.

As there has been ban by the court to dig illegal bore wells, there are over 15,000 illegal borewells in the city. In most of the areas, the groundwater has fallen to levels of 50 metres.

The adverse impact of the poor water supply has begun to affect a large number of households even now.

Water scarcity in large parts of the city has resulted in the growth of tanker mafia where water is been sold to the resident at exorbitant rates.

Most of the residents complain that they are forced to pay the amount ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 to the private water tankers.

The alarming decline in water levels in the city was also stated recently by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).