Dependent on groundwater, NCR high rise residents suffer as level dips further
Dependent on groundwater, NCR high rise residents suffer as level dips further
The plan to decongest the national capital took shape in the form of satellite cities of Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. However, the planners missed one basic amenity to provide - piped water supply to high-rise apartments.
In many areas of these high rise cities, there is no government-run water supply. As a result, the groundwater level has gone down by manifolds.
In Noida Extension, the government agencies have sealed the submersible pumps of societies and are providing water from their pumping set drawing groundwater from it.
A failed pumping set has led to many high rise inhabitants queuing up for water tankers. In Crossings Republik of Ghaziabad, all the societies are dependent on groundwater as the agencies have failed to provide water supply.
"The authorities have sealed the pumping sets of societies and are providing groundwater from their pumping sets. This is doing the same thing but officially. We have been waiting for Ganga water supply for over a decade but no one takes any interest in providing us with basic amenities. The high rise residents are just a vote bank", said Abhishek Kumar, president, New Era Flat Owners Welfare Association.
"1,400 residents of the Panchsheel Hynish society were totally dependent on water tankers as the pumping set of the authority that provided groundwater had failed in scorching heat. How can the government turn a blind eye to such problems and not provide water supply", he questioned.
Ujjwal Mishra, president, Federation of Crossings Republik Apartment Owners Association, said "The societies have to re-bore for water as the groundwater is depleting at an alarming pace. We have rain water harvesting, but in the absence of any water supply from the government, we have been forced to draw groundwater since last decade. The re-boring was done four years back when the submersible pump was at 200 feet, now its at 300 feet and this summer, water supply is feeble", Mishra added.
Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida) District Magistrate Maneesh Kumar said "We don't have information about how much water level has been depleted. We have sought a report from the agencies concerned".
Hariom Kumar, Executive Engineer, irrigation department, Ghaziabad, said "Maximum depletion in groundwater level has been recorded in Vijay Nagar area. It has been observed that 11 meters of depletion has happened in the last six years. It is happening because of less recharge and more usage".