Rains help raise groundwater level around Yamuna by 2.5m
NEW DELHI: Devices installed by the Delhi government to measure the groundwater level in a four-square kilometre area around a reservoir created along the Yamuna floodplains near Palla neighbourhood, recorded a rise of 2.5 metres this year, the highest in three years, with the Capital receiving record rains this monsoon.
With the project completing three monsoons since its pilot run in 2019, the government will now start drafting a report from October 1, which is supposed to be submitted to a committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), said a senior government official.
“The government is supposed to take a call on continuing the project, expanding the 26-acre reservoir and acquiring more farmlands, only after getting the tribunal’s nod,” said the official.
In July 2019, the Delhi government launched a water conservation project along the Yamuna river, which, the official said, aimed at recharging the depleting groundwater levels in the national capital.
The project involved creating a reservoir to collect excess water from the Yamuna as it floods during the monsoon and giving it adequate time to recharge groundwater levels. The government was supposed to record developments of the project for three monsoons and prepare a report, that is to be shared with the NGT-appointed panel, for taking further call.
The government acquired 40 acres of land along the Yamuna floodplains near Palla in 2019 for the project. Of the 40 acres, 10 belonged to gram sabhas in the area and 30 acres were acquired from farmers on threeyear lease agreements. The government then created a reservoir of 17.6 acres.
The next year, the size of the reservoir was increased to 26 acres. In a four square metre area around the reservoir , which includes Palla, Bakhtawarpur, Tigipur, Sungarpur, Bakner, Mamorpur and a few other villages with vast stretches of paddy fields, the government set up a network of 33 piezometers--devices that can measure the depth of groundwater.
“In 2019, the devices showed that the groundwater levels have risen to 1.3 metres, and last year, the maximum rise recorded was 2 metres. This year, the devices recorded a maximum rise of 2.5 metres,” said the senior government official who did not wish to be named. The reservoir is estimated to have contributed 4,350 million litres to the groundwater aquifer collectively in 2019 and 2020.
“Assessment for 2021 is yet to be done. It will be incorporated in the final report. The government plans to submit the report to the NGT-appointed committee in another two months,” said the official.
The government has plans to expand the project to a 1,000acre area stretching till Wazirabad, said a second official in the government’s irrigation and flood control department “To understand why the project is evidently bearing fruit, one has to look at rainfall data, because rain plays the primary role here,” said the official.
According to the data of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi usually receives 653.6mm of rainfall during the monsoon season. In 2020, the city recorded 648.9mm of precipitation and 404mm rain in 2019. This monsoon, Delhi has received 1,169.7mm rainfall till 8pm on Sunday, the highest since 1964 (1,190.9 mm).
“The idea of the reservoir sounds feasible considering the soil type in Delhi, which allows quick percolation of water. If the government does not take measures to recharge groundwater levels now, things can get worse. Chennai has a severe groundwater depletion problem. Delhi should not become another Chennai,” said Sanjay Singh, national coordinator of Jan Jal Jodo Abhiyan, an advocacy group that works on access to water, conservation of water bodies, groundwater recharge and water security through community participation.
Farmers in the area, however, highlighted some concerns. “There are issues pertaining to payment of rent in accordance with the lease. Those have to be resolved. The farmers who have given their lands have no other source of income,” said Ritesh Rana, a farmer and a resident of Bakhtawarpur village.
When HT visited the villages close to the reservoir this week, several farmers stressed on why they were unsure about the effectiveness of the project.
“Most farmers have water pumps and pipes that go 40 feet down. During monsoon, they face no problem. We are not very sure about changes in the groundwater level. We learn about the changes through data occasionally shared by government teams visiting the site,” said Pappan Singh Gahlot, a farmer from Tigipur village.
There are also a lot of uncertainties.
“What happens if the government plans to drop the project next year? The whole area has been dug up and farmers cannot cultivate this land without help from the government. Also, if they plan to expand it, they should inform farmers before the sowing season. Last time, they had to cut half-grown paddy to make space for the reservoir. Farmers in the area still feel they have not been compensated adequately for the crop loss,” said Rai Singh Tanwar, a farmer from Sungarpur.
The office of Delhi’s water minister Satyendar Jain said, “The impact assessment of the project is being done by the joint committee appointed by NGT. All data pertaining to groundwater levels, amount of water being recharged and rainfall in the local area is being shared with the committee... It is expected that the joint committee shall submit its report to the NGT by the end of this year.”
On land lease amount concerns worrying farmers, Jain’s office said, “The lease rent of land owners are being paid timely... according to the lease agreement by l&FC department for development of pilot project at village Sungerpur. The lease rent upto 2nd year has already been paid through online payment and 3rd year 1st quarter payment is under process . However, there was an issue with some farmers due to the merger of banks and changes in IFSC details. This has been sorted out with land owners concerned.”
On what will happen to the land if the project is dropped and other uncertainties, an officer in Jain’s office, who is also in charge of the irrigation and flood department, said: “As per the terms and conditions of the lease agreement, if the project is not continued then the land of the farmers shall be returned to them by filling the land with the excavated earth and bringing it to the same elevation as the soil near the reservoir site.”
Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, a civil society consortium working for the Yamuna’s protection, however, flagged concerns regarding challenges to fair assessment of the project.
“The project has been created in a floodplain, which have an organic relationship with rivers. During the monsoons, the rivers feeds on the floodplains. The water percolates and recharges aquifers, which can stretch for kilometres. During dry months, the aquifers feed the rivers and help them maintain a base flow. Being a perennial river, Yamuna is one such case. So, a large part of the water recharging process is automatic here,” said Misra.