The groundwater ranges in four blocks of Ghaziabad district have exhibited a regarding decline, officers conscious of the state of affairs stated, including that these blocks embrace Ghaziabad Metropolis, Rajapur, Loni and Bhojpur.
Based on the statistics offered by the Uttar Pradesh groundwater division officers, in the Bhojpur block, the groundwater level has dropped from 13.89 meters under floor level (mbgl) in the course of the post-monsoon interval of 2019 to 13.92mbgl in the corresponding interval of 2022.
In the meantime, Rajapur block stands because the worst hit with round 8mbgl drop.
In Loni, the groundwater level fell from 20.94mbgl to 24.16mbgl, and in Rajapur, the level plummeted from 19.82mbgl to twenty-eight.76mbgl throughout the identical interval.
Nonetheless, in the Muradnagar block the groundwater state of affairs has seen an enchancment in the course of the post-monsoon interval of 2022 when in comparison with earlier years.
The groundwater ranges right here have proven enchancment, rising from 5.84mbgl in the post-monsoon interval of 2019 to 4.59mbgl in 2022.
The 2022 groundwater evaluation report launched by the Uttar Pradesh groundwater division final yr categorises the four blocks of Loni, Razapur, Bhojpur and Ghaziabad Metropolis as “over exploited”, and the Muradnagar block as “semi crucial”.
“Over-exploited” items point out areas the place groundwater extraction exceeds the annual replenishable groundwater recharge. In these areas, groundwater extraction is greater than 100%.
The “semi-critical” items are these the place the groundwater extraction is between 70% and 90%.
Vikrant Sharma, a city-based environmentalist, stated, “Uncontrolled growth of unauthorized colonies and rampant extraction of groundwater in these areas are vital contributors. This rampant extraction is usually facilitated by unchecked utilization of submersible pumps, additional aggravating the problem. Moreover, the insufficient implementation of rainwater harvesting items, or their non-functional standing, compounds the issue.”
He added that the foundation explanation for this predicament is the neglect of water our bodies, which play a pivotal function in recharging groundwater.
“The gradual decline in these assets exacerbates the disaster. Moreover, the dearth of stringent enforcement in opposition to unlawful groundwater extraction and the absence of complete hydrological research additional contribute to the dire state of affairs,” Akash Vashishtha, one other city-based environmental and lawyer stated.
The bigger image reveals that even the Ghaziabad metropolis block, encompassing town space, has not been proof against this phenomenon.
The common groundwater level has declined from 28.96mbgl in the post-monsoon interval of 2020 to 29.93mbgl in 2022.
Amongst these, the areas of Vijay Nagar exhibits a decline of 4.10 mbgl whereas there’s decline of 4.28mbgl close to the CBI Academy (reverse Shastri Nagar) throughout the identical interval.
The opposite areas of Sahibabad, Jhandapur, Prahladgarhi (close to Vasundhara), Makanpur (Indirapuram) and Vaishali have additionally recorded a decline of two.26mbgl, 1.01mbgl, 2.37mbgl, 2.93 and a couple of.14mbgl, respectively, throughout the identical interval.
The officers stated {that a} research of groundwater assets is being taken up for Bhojpur block this yr.
“Whereas the research will likely be taken up for Loni block subsequent yr by the distant sensing company, Lucknow. We’re in the method of putting in rainwater harvesting items at authorities buildings and likewise in colleges with the assistance of CSR funds. The rejuvenation of about 150 ‘Amrit Sarovars’ (ponds) can even be accomplished quickly. We’ve got additionally instructed the officers of the event companies to implement set up of RWH items in plots over 300 sq. metres,” stated Hari Om, govt engineer of UP minor irrigation and nodal officer for district groundwater council.
