Gurgaon, famous for its plush buildings and luxury apartments, stares at a serious problem: water scarcity. Excessive drawing of groundwater has led to the water table receding almost six metres in the last two years, according to a

study carried out by the Gurgaon administration.

Compared to the adjoining blocks like Sohna, Pataudi and Farukhnagar, the dip is highest in Gurgaon. The findings are a matter of concern as summers are just a few months away.

According to S R Sehrawat, a hydrologist, erratic building activities in the city are the main reason for the declining water table.

When asked about the number of violators challaned for illegally drawing water, Sehrawat said: “Without any survey, the number of violators in the block is not clear.”

“There is no denying that the ground water table is taking a plunge. The government and the people should join hands to improve the situation,” said Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Deepti Umashankar, adding: “About five committees are monitoring the growing menace of illegal tapping of water in the city. Stricter enforcement of law will improve the situation.”

The residents of Gurgaon blame the builders for not doing anything towards rainwater harvesting. “Builders are supposed to make provisions for rainwater harvesting. But such plans remain only on paper. Once the completion certificate for the building is obtained, no body cares,” said R S Rathee, president, DLF Residents’ Welfare Association. “DLF gets 1.5 MGD of water, which is just 60 per cent of the total requirement of 2.5 MGD.”

Ratan Katwal, president of the Malibu Town Condominium RWA, said: “Unmindful issuing of licence to builders and not fixing limits to drawing of groundwater are responsible for the present situation. If immediate action is not taken, it may get worse. We do not get commissioned water and draw it from tubewells, but we know that our gain is someone else’s loss.” After the completion of a project, the licensing authorities hardly conduct any survey to check if the guidelines to conserve water are adhered to.

HUDA Administrator G Anupama said: “I am not aware of any post-completion surveys conducted in the recent past. It is a mandate at the planning stage to have rainwater harvesting systems in residential areas and additional sewage treatment plants in commercial areas.”

The Haryana Urban Development Authority supplies 32 MGD (million gallons per day) of water from the Basai canal to Gurgaon while 5 MGD is drawn from tubewells. The Public Health Department supplies 7 MGD of water to the old Gurgaon area.