Lakes left high and dry: Study finds Delhi has lost over 190 of its 611 water bodies... and is doing nothing to save the rest
By SHIBAJI ROYCHOUDHURY
Dry and dirty - the Capital's water bodies are dying. With encroachments, sewage and concrete constructions all over them, these reservoirs portray yet another picture of ineptitude in the government and its agencies.
Of the 611 water bodies in the Capital, 274 have already dried up, while the remaining 337 that still have water are in a terrible condition.
But the DDA, MCD, block development officers and Delhi Jal Board are in a deep slumber even as the city grapples with water shortage year after year.
The stench of apathy and greed is hovering all over these reservoirs. Rather than doing the needful to boost the eco-system and water table in Delhi, the MCD and DDA are busy minting money by selling the dry water bodies to private companies, allowing them to build on the land.
In the process, the Capital has lost over 190 water bodies forever as they cannot be revived, according to a survey released by the Delhi Parks and Gardens Society (DPGS) that works under the Delhi government's department of environment.
The stark reality hits hard when a count is taken. Of the 54 water bodies in Delhi's east zone, 18 are dry and 21 have been encroached upon. In the south, 44 have been encroached upon out of total 120. Furthermore, eight water bodies are polluted by the sewage.
Only the Central district can boast of a large number of water bodies that have been developed and have a permanent flow. Hauz Khas, the once beautiful reservoir in south Delhi, is covered with algae now. With garbage dumped at places around it, one cannot escape the foul smell that fills the air.
Most lakes in Delhi are rapidly turning into sewage ponds. Rather than doing the needful, various agencies are selling the dry water bodies to private companies
Bhalaswa Lake in the north has turned into a sewage pond.
Neela Hauz Lake in the south and Sanjay Lake in the east are going the same way.
The Kakkadooma Lake in the north, which used to recharge ground water, has been converted into the Ambedkar Park.
Not surprisingly, environmentalists have raised their voices about the gradual loss of water bodies, which are essential to maintain the groundwater levels.
"Water bodies are part of the natural water chain on which an entire ecosystem is dependent. Once these natural catchments and reservoirs are destroyed, the chain is broken," said Ravi Agrawal, director of Toxics Link, an NGO.
"Water bodies also contribute to keeping up a healthy groundwater table that has come under serious threat in the Capital. Delhi is already grappling with a serious water shortage," he added.
Between 1997 and 1998, a total of 21 water bodies had disappeared from the map of Delhi. Most of these were lakes, according to Ritu Singh, a scientist at the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
Plans to revive some of them never really took off. The DPGS took over two years to compile the list of water bodies under various agencies before conducting a survey to find out the current status of these reservoirs.
"It was a tough process as we had to gather data from all the agencies. But now that we have an overall idea, we can formulate a plan. For instance, those that have become dry need greening around them for rejuvenation," said S.D. Singh, chief executive officer of the agency.
However, there seems to be no clear picture about the number of water bodies in the Capital.
"The Delhi High Court has over the years got several committees to short-list the total number of water bodies in the Capital. But most of them came up with different numbers," said Vinod Kumar Jain, who founded the NGO Tapas in 1996, and has been working towards saving the water bodies in and around Delhi.
From picturesque lake to dust bowl
By Ajay Kumar in Faridabad
It is impossible to imagine that what is now only a dry terrain in Faridabad was once the fascinating Badkhal Lake. But this is the reality, and it seems the Haryana government agencies are not bothered about it, even as environmentalists have flagged the condition of the water body.
And not just Badkhal, the situation is equally grim for the Surajkund Lake which too, has dried up. It's a bleak story in Faridabad that has been hovering for the last 10 years, leading to gradual depletion of the water table.
Spread over three km, Badkhal Lake is now fully dependent on rainwater. But with sparse rainfall, the lake doesn't hold water round the year.
And the government's apathy isn't helping either: besides impacting the local eco-system, tourism has been hit badly. Jakir Housain, a guide at Badkhal Lake, said tourists are no longer visiting the lake.
A decade ago, the lake had a source of water from Baniya Khan area in the Aravalli Hills. But over the years, flow in the water channels has been disrupted due to digging.
"Our tourism business has been severely affected. Only few tourists have been coming to this place for horse or camel riding. We had got a contract for `40,000 to run the business in the lake area, but we hardly earn anything," said another tourist guide, Javed Khan.
The situation in Surajkund is slightly different. Though it has been dry for many years, the place now attracts visitors for cultural activities.
with thanks : Daily Mail : LINK
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