50-A Project report on Groundwater Assessment of Delhi.

Abstract

Groundwater is one of the major sources for water supply in many parts of the country. In 4 Delhi too groundwater contributes to substantial quantity of supply. Especially in new development areas groundwater is largely being utilised as a drinking water resource, mainly because of the insufficiency of the Yamuna water share for Delhi. Groundwater collects in the aquifers over thousands of years through infiltration and groundwater flow recharge. A particular amount of groundwater is replenished regularly through rainwater infiltration. Sustainable use of groundwater means withdrawal of groundwater at a rate at which it is replenished through recharge. According to the Central ground water board the recharge areas identified is the northernmost part of the city. Areas where the ponds already exist in the '0 villages, the Najafgarh jheel and its surroundings and the region between the northern ridge can also be used as water recharge area. Faster withdrawal rates would lead to fall in water V table and finally depletion of groundwater. Water level decline is a major issue in the northwest India particularly in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and New Delhi. e.g. As per the data taken from o Agriculture Department, Haryana shows that the water level has gone down by 1 to 25 m in last 4 decades. Data of Delhi and Sangrur has been compared (1983-1997) with present CGWB report which shows that water table in both areas declined but in last 35 years Delhi become the highly exploited area and need to manage water resources.