Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has warned of “disastrous consequences” for future generations if groundwater depletion in Gurugram continues unchecked, observing that the present generation is only a trustee for the generations to come.A bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor made the observations in its Oct 1 order on a bunch of petitions concerning groundwater-related issues.Citing a Central Ground Water Board affidavit filed with National Green Tribunal, the court said “the annual extractable ground water resource is twice the available resource“. It also recorded admissions from Haryana Water Resources Authority, Panchkula, that water levels in Gurgaon have plunged nearly 40 metres in several areas.“The situation is rather grim and needs immediate attention of all stakeholders,” the bench observed, directing authorities to examine the issue threadbare and formulate measures to halt the depletion.“It is to be kept in mind that the present generation is only a trustee for the futures to come and if we lose natural resources like groundwater in the manner like it is happening, the future generation will have to face disastrous consequences,” the bench observed.The court directed Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) chief executive officer P C Meena to convene a high-level meeting on Oct 5 to address the crisis.Key officials ordered to attend with complete records include the Gurugram Deputy Commissioner, Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) administrator, Gurugram municipal commissioner and senior officials from the Haryana Water Resources Authority, Haryana Pond Authority, Central Ground Water Board and Central Ground Water Authority. Representatives from TERI, local Resident Welfare Associations, DLF City, and REDCO have also been invited to participate.The court instructed the Central Ground Water Authority to provide exact data on registered and unregistered borewells operating across Gurgaon. It further urged the panel to explore immediately banning groundwater extraction in areas served by GMDA piped water.Meena has been directed to submit an affidavit detailing the outcomes and decisions of the Oct 5 meeting by Oct 8.The order was issued during hearings on Sunil Singh v. Ministry of Environment and Forests, alongside related petitions by the Qutab Enclave Residents Welfare Association and others.
