Gurgaon: Govt officials and experts have highlighted a sharp variation in groundwater levels across the city. Consequently, the city is set to adopt a targeted groundwater recharge strategy. The variation was discussed at a high-level meeting, chaired by GMDA CEO PC Meena, on Monday. GMDA has to place the outcome of the meeting before Punjab and Haryana high court through an affidavit.The meeting dwelt at length on the variations, with groundwater around 200 metres below ground in Sector 21 compared with about 3.5 metres in Sector 104, according to the groundwater cell. Against this backdrop, agencies, on Monday, drew up a multi-pronged plan to reduce groundwater extraction and retain more rainwater within the city. The district administration has also been asked to prepare a plan to identify and act against unauthorised borewells. A key component of the plan is to retain rainwater within the city instead of allowing it to flow into stormwater drains.On Oct 1, HC — while hearing a petition concerning groundwater depletion in the city — expressed serious concern over the situation and directed GMDA to bring all concerned agencies together to work out measures to arrest depletion. The court had also asked authorities to examine the possibility of stopping groundwater extraction in areas where GMDA-piped water is available and sought details of registered and unregistered borewells.Departments have been asked to identify alternative sources and gradually discontinue the use of borewells in their respective areas. All concerned departments have been directed to submit their action plans by Oct 6, detailing the measures they can take to reduce groundwater extraction and increase recharge. GMDA will consolidate the proposals for submission to HC.An expert who attended the meeting said, “The sharp variation in groundwater levels showed that recharge measures needed to be location specific, with greater focus on areas where the water table is substantially deeper — specially in the eastern part of the city where the groundwater levels have depleted up to 200 meters.”A GMDA official said that it will work on the revival of natural water bodies, removal of encroachments from water bodies, lowering of green-belt levels and conversion of suitable parks into bioswales. The feasibility of constructing underground rainwater storage tanks beneath parks is also being examined. GMDA, in collaboration with TCS, is conducting a feasibility study for an underground storage tank beneath the football ground at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Sector 38.Five advanced scientific rainwater harvesting structures are being developed by GMDA in collaboration with IIT Delhi. Structures in sectors 31 and 39 and AIT Park in Sector 55 have been completed, while work on the fourth structure at Rezangla Chowk is under way. More such structures will be developed at other locations if the pilot projects yield satisfactory results. MCG, in collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar, will also develop injection wells as part of efforts to improve groundwater recharge.Pond rejuvenation is another major component of the plan. Authorities want to restore ponds, lakes and traditional water bodies in a manner that ensures water availability throughout the year rather than only during the monsoon. According to Haryana Water Resources Authority, 142 ponds have been identified for rejuvenation in the district. Of these, 68 have been completed and 74 are under way. Another 21 ponds have been rejuvenated under the VB-G Ram Ji (MGNREGA) programme. Within the MCG area, 32 ponds have been redeveloped and work on 21 others is in progress. The plan also seeks to reduce groundwater use by increasing the reuse of tertiary-treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants.The textile industry is currently receiving 10 MLD of treated water from GMDA, while other industrial units will also be encouraged to switch to treated wastewater. Haryana State Pollution Control Board will monitor the functioning of STPs in group housing societies to ensure compliance with prescribed standards. Directions were also issued for separate electricity connections for STPs and strict enforcement of the zero-discharge policy in group housing societies.The new plan therefore seeks to address both sides of the problem: reducing the city’s dependence on groundwater while increasing the amount of rainwater and treated wastewater retained and reused within Gurgaon. The department-wise action plans due on Oct 6 will provide the specific responsibilities and interventions proposed by each agency.
