Ponds on verge of extinction in Faridabad to be revived

Bijendra Ahlawat

The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) has launched a project to revive ponds within its limits. Around three-fourths of the ponds that existed as natural water bodies in Faridabad a few decades ago are on the verge of extinction.

“As many as 55 of 76 ponds that existed in Faridabad 40 years ago are on the verge of extinction and there is an urgent need to revive them,” says Arbind Kumar, Executive Engineer, MCF. 

He says a survey has been done in this regard, and the detailed project report is likely to be ready in the next three months. The objective of the project is to revive the water bodies for the purpose of storing rainwater and excess water drained out every day. The ponds will come handy in tackling the problem of the falling underground water table in the city and Faridabad district, he adds. The underground water table in a majority of the areas in Faridabad district has gone down to the alarming level of more than 250 feet. In the region adjoining the Aravalli hills comprising famous Surajkund, the water table is around 400 feet deep. More than 1,400 functional tubewells and bore wells in the city have also affected the water table in the city. As many as 29 villages in the district fall within the municipal limits. The work to revive the ponds was taken up on the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that had directed the civic authorities of Faridabad and Gurugram to restore all water bodies.

Arbind Kumar says that it is a herculean task to revive all ponds. While 21 ponds are alive and clear of any issue, as many as 45 per cent of the ponds are either under encroachment or litigation. While cases are pending in courts over the possession of the land of 17 ponds, another 18 ponds are under the possession of government departments such as HUDA, telecom, PWD, education and the MCF. Residential and private buildings have come up on the land in some of the villages where once ponds existed. Another 20 ponds have been encroached upon, says the report. 

However, MCF officials claim that besides de-silting ponds, a mechanism to ensure that only clean or treated water flows into them will be adopted as part of the project. “All ponds must give a look of clean water bodies or lakes with no insanitary conditions around so that residents can enjoy a walk every day,”  says Arbind Kumar. The MCF has proposed to spend between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 80 lakh on the project. GIS mapping and a physical survey have been completed on all ponds with the help of ‘Development—2050’, an NGO based at Faridabad.

Besides, some private organisations have also expressed interest in the revival of the water bodies. A team of officials from the Manav Rachna Research Innovation and Incubation Centre, Faridabad, visited Mohna village in Faridabad last year to explore the possibility of reviving local pond called ‘Chitra Ka Pokhar’ located near Government Boys Senior Secondary School. “The pond has almost dried up due to shrunken and blocked storm water drains meant for diverting water to it,” says a report prepared by the team.