Bunds, ponds in Millennium City on brink of extinction
GURUGRAM: The present situation of water logging across different parts of Gurugram highlights that another opportunity may be lost in enhancing the ground water levels that are falling at an alarming rate.
One of the major reasons cited for the wastage of water is the depletion of ponds and bunds or small water dams. Most of the city's ponds and bunds today are encroached and built up areas.
They which were set up during the British times are facing extinction.
The surviving ones are in an utter state of negligence. In over 460 ponds spread across Gurugram district, 208 have dried up, 186 are dirty where water cannot be utilised.
While Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has started a drive, this monsoon to clean the water ponds in and around the district, most of the environmentalists and residents do not seems to be impressed by the work of MCG officials.
The ancient Sukhrali village pond, a rare pond situated in the centre of the city has survived being taken over by the real estate sharks unlike the other ponds in the village that have been urbanised.
As Gurugram received good monsoons last year after a long time the 5-acre pond was completely filled up after a long time.
However, the residents of Sukhrali rather want it to be converted into a park or a sports ground for training.
Already a part of the pond has been used for building a community centre.
Last year, the District Forest Department collaborated with a citizen welfare body in the trust to revive the 5 kilometre Wazirabad bund.
In addition to the desilting and increasing, water capacity emphasis is also being paid on augmenting the green cover around the area.
“Most of the residents today are facing water crisis in their areas because there was no action when the bunds and ponds that are effective forms of the aquifer were encroached and allowed to go extinct.
We are trying to revive the Wazirabad bund that also was at a risk of being encroached upon. We have been able to revamp one kilometre out of the five kilometres stretch,” said Latika Thukral founder of I am Gurgaon, organisation working for reviving Wazirabad Bundh.