Delhi identifies 1,080 water bodies, many face encroachment, poor water quality: Report

Delhi has identified 1,080 water bodies, with the highest number in South West Delhi, while many face encroachment, drying up and poor water quality, according to a status report filed by the Wetland Authority of Delhi before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The status report, submitted on July 9 in compliance with the tribunal’s directions, was filed in a case initiated after media reports on the disappearance of water bodies in Delhi.It compiles information received from 16 land-owning agencies, including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Revenue Department, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Forest Department, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and others.

South West Delhi has the highest number of water bodies at 291, followed by Outer North with 266 and South Delhi with 156. North East has 56 water bodies, East 52, South East 49, West 42, North 40, Central North 29, Central 14 and New Delhi five. The report also lists four water bodies under Old Delhi, 35 under the DDA’s O-Zone category and others.

According to the report, the DDA accounts for 856 water bodies, followed by the Revenue Department with 130, the Forest Department with 28, MCD with 24, ASI with 16, DJB with six and CPWD with five among others.

The DDA said it has prepared action plans for the protection or rejuvenation of 182 water bodies.

Of the 108 water bodies for which it provided water quality data, 11 were classified as having good water quality, two as moderate and 95 as poor.

It also reported that 181 water bodies have dried up, 126 are under encroachment, 111 have been demarcated, 95 comply with the Supreme Court’s March 5, 2019 directions, 60 are located in built-up areas, 53 fall within parks, 28 have been developed as tourist destinations, 10 have been allotted to individuals or other agencies and treated water from sewage treatment plants is being discharged into 20 water bodies.

The Revenue Department said demarcation has been completed for 94 of its 130 water bodies. It reported that three are under encroachment, two are occupied under the Twenty Point Programme, six have dried up and restoration estimates have been prepared for 38 water bodies.

It said no action plan has yet been finalised for removing encroachments. Revenue records also showed that no water body exists at two locations.

The MCD said demarcation has been completed for 21 of its 24 water bodies, while four are under encroachment. It reported that nine water bodies comply with the Supreme Court’s March 5, 2019 directions, nine are seasonal and two retain water throughout the year.

The civic body also said 22 water bodies are receiving untreated sewage, 15 have been allotted to the MCD, one to the Special Projects Department and four have been developed as tourist destinations.

The DJB said it had submitted information for only one of the six water bodies under its jurisdiction and that demarcation of that water body has been completed.

The ASI said 14 protected water bodies under its jurisdiction are well preserved and do not require immediate conservation measures. It said two water bodies have been reported to be dry and under encroachment, while demarcation of two baolis at Tughlakabad is under way.

It added that the 14 protected water bodies have been developed and maintained as tourist destinations.

The Forest Department said demarcation has been completed for 13 of its 28 water bodies.

It reported one residential encroachment and two dried-up water bodies. The department said desilting and cleaning have been carried out in 13 water bodies, while seasonal cleaning was undertaken in three before the monsoon.

The CPWD said demarcation of Mehrauli Lake has been completed. It reported that around 28,964 square metres are free from encroachment, while around 200 square metres are under encroachment.

The department also reported encroachments at two temple sites, while two water bodies currently contain water and one has dried up.

The report said the Delhi Archaeology Department informed the authority that the Dwarka Baoli has been demarcated, remains free from encroachment, conservation work has been completed and its water quality is good.

The Delhi Waqf Board said the Qutub Ki Baoli in Mehrauli is protected, free from encroachment, maintained by the Dargah Committee and has good water quality, while the Delhi State Industrial And Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) reported that all four water bodies under its jurisdiction have been demarcated, are free from encroachment and have good water quality.

The report said Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board’s (DUSIB) lone water body has been demarcated but is occupied by 40-50 households, with a rehabilitation plan being prepared before removal of encroachments. IIT Delhi said the natural drain under its jurisdiction is being maintained through periodic cleaning and desilting, while JNU requested that its three check dams be removed from the wetland inventory as they are man-made structures.

The PWD said demarcation of Mayapuri Lake has been completed and reported encroachment by a CNG pump structure. It said rejuvenation of the lake has been proposed through the Delhi Jal Board.

The IGSC said demarcation of its lone lake has been completed and that it is free from encroachment, has good water quality and complies with the Supreme Court’s March 5, 2019 directions. NTPC informed the authority that the water body earlier under its jurisdiction has been handed over to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

The Wetland Authority requested the tribunal to direct all land-owning agencies to complete the demarcation of pending water bodies within a fixed timeline and ensure their protection, restoration and conservation by preventing encroachments, maintaining their ecological character and implementing measures under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

It also sought directions for the agencies to submit periodic compliance reports until the exercise is completed.