CHANDIGARH:Water—major resource in times of crisis, is being rapidly depleted in the region
including Chandigarh. According to the data complied by the Central Groundwater Board of the
Ministry of Water Resources shows that in some patches have recorded increase in groundwater
level compared to other parts of the city. In some parts it has registered rise in water level whereas
in come there is steep decline of water levels. According to the field based survey of National
Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) water level in 82 per cent of Punjab’s area and 63 per cent
of Haryana has decreased substantially.
The worst hit sectors of Chandigarh include 27, 10, 12, 21, and 31 where the water level has
dropped by as much as five meter to 15 meters over the past 10 years while decline in water level in
Burail, CSIO and new Industrial Area it is one meter to two meter. Ground water level in south part
of Chandigarh has recorded an increase of two to four meter.
As per data, groundwater level in Sector 27 in 2005 was 70.03 mgbl (water below ground
level) that dropped to 86.31 mbgl in 2012; in Sector 10, 21, 29 dropped to 27.15 mbgl; in Sector 12,
11, 25 it dropped to 12.06 mgbl and in Sector 21 decline in water level recorded to 6.42 to 9.40
mbgl. Though the data of Central Groundwater Board pointed that the situation in Chandigarh was
not worse yet if the situation continues for long the situation will turn to worst.
In the western sectors (39 to 47) the water level is shallow and dropped as we moved from
west to eash. Sectors fall along side Manimajra water level is shallow more than eight meters and it
gradually depends as we move dfrom west to east. Water shortage is more in northern sectors
compared to southern sectors, reveals the data.
Data also shows that depletion in water level is more (10-12 meters) in northern sectors.
But when it comes to power cuts southern sectors face more power cuts compared to northern
sectors. In case of water shortage it is vice versa.
Capital of two states, Chandigarh if steps are not taken to recharge water, there are signs
that things will only get worse. There will not be enough drinking water to meet the demands. The
city’s daily demand for water stands at over 500 million liters per day (MLD) whereas available
supply is around 390 MLD. Still there is shortage of more than 130 MLD. Major water requirement is
met through canal water i.e. approximately over 300 MLD. By 2031 city will need around 800 MLD of
water per day.
Dr Ritesh Arya, internationally famed Geologist, said that water tables in the region
including Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula have been dropping because of the reduction in
recharge areas because of construction of roads, buildings and concrete of upper layers of ground
coupled with heavy pumping of ground water and pressure was being put on water use by every
increasing population. “Time has come to stop this progressive lowering of ground water levels dur
to pressures of urbanization. Pause for a while if there is no canal water supply to the city what will
be the situation, ” says Dr Arya.