MCG to look for illegal borewells, seal them

Gurgaon: The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) is planning to form two teams for each of its zones, which will conduct inspections to find out the number of illegal borewells in the city. At present, the corporation is not sure about the actual number of illegal borewells in the city.
The exercise is long overdue in a city where the water table has been falling alarmingly. The teams will start sealing illegal borewells from July 26 onwards. MCG has also decided to repair and clean all rainwater harvesting units in the city within a week’s time. This decision was taken with a view to stopping illegal usage of groundwater as the city has been close to a water crisis since 2013, when the entire district was categorised as “over-exploited’ by the Central Ground Water Board.
Even though there has been a ban on new borewells in the city, there have been reports about many borewells having been dug up in the area illegally, which is a matter of concern, MCG officials pointed out in a meeting on Monday.
According to data by the district groundwater cell, there are about 9,140 borewells officially registered in Gurgaon, and more than 15,000 operating without permission. The actual number of illegal borewells is unknown. MCG hopes this drive will help it identify and close down all such borewells.
TOI had reported in 2018 that the city’s water table has seen an 82% decline in the last 10 years. The data collected by the groundwater cell shows that the water table fell to 36.21 metres below ground level in 2016.
In 2006, this was 19.85 metres, showing an alarming decline of about 17 metres over the decade. In the last five years, the pace of decline has been 1.5-2 metres every year. This is faster than the rate of depletion than that in Delhi.
“The teams will conduct raids in their respective zones to seal any active illegal borewells and will submit status reports. All zonal officers are directed to form two teams for this project,” said additional municipal commissioner, Y S Gupta.
He also directed officials to prepare a report on the status of rainwater harvesting units in the city.
Stressing on the fact that the rainwater harvesting units are significant for Gurgaon to revive its groundwater table, officials were asked to map out all units located under MCG’s jurisdiction and to clarify how many of them are functioning.
At present, the city has a total of 627 rainwater harvesting pits — 360 in areas under MCG and 267 in HSVP sectors. The corporation is also working to rejuvenate 13 water bodies in the city with a view to recharge the water table, officials said.
MCG has also decided to ensure that the tubewells which it has already sealed are converted into recharge wells to replenish groundwater. The city has a total of eight decentralised waste water treatment plants. Treated water is being used in green belts and also being sprinkled on roads to bring down air pollution levels, saving groundwater.