Exploitation of Ground Water : High Court Bars New Construction in Gurgaon

Taking a serious view of exploitation of ground water in Gurgaon, Punjab and Haryana High Court recently barred issuance of any fresh license for construction activity unless builders give an undertaking that underground water would not be drawn by them.

The court asked the HUDA (Haryana Urban Development Authority) to ensure that the undertaking by the builder /  individuals should make clear the source of water drawn by them for construction purposes in Gurgaon, Delhi's satellite city which has become base of many Multi National Companies ( MNCs) over the years.

The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Mr. Jasbir Singh and Mr. Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain asked the Punjab and Haryana state officials to give details of how many water connections have been released till now by the authorities and how they intend to deal with the problem in Gurgaon.The Court also asked for details of the total water connections in Gurgaon and its actual requirement.The court has directed among others the Secretaries of DTCP (Department of Town and Country Planning), Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner, the Public Health Department, HUDA Chief to remain present in the court on July 31, 2012.

Severe Water Shortage..!

The bench gave the order on a bunch of petitions filed by Qutub Enclave Residents Welfare Association & other petitioners who alleged that the builders / promoters in Gurgaon had been extracting ground water using borewells for construction purposes while authorities had curtailed supply of drinking water in many areas causing agony to the common citizens.

The petitioners had urged the court to pass orders restraining construction & other commercial activities around Gurgaon in view of the severe water shortage faced by the residents.They had submitted that water situation in Gurgaon, which falls in the National Capital Region (NCR) and has witnessed many mega commercial & residential projects come up over the last few years, has been worsening over the years.

A ban is already in place for boring tubewells in Gurgaon in the wake of low water table.The water table has also fallen to alarming levels in Gurgaon's adjoining areas of Rewari & Mahendergarh.

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