Delhi needs 44 small dams, 480 new waterbodies to recharge groundwater table: Study

NEW DELHI: Delhi needs to develop 44 small dams in forest areas and 480 new waterbodies to recharge the depleting groundwater table, besides making it mandatory for residential and commercial complexes measuring 500 square metres or more to have rainwater harvesting facilities, a study commissioned by the AAP government has said.

The study has also recommended that the city's storm water drains should have soft beds instead of cemented ones and toe weirs at intervals.

Delhi Irrigation Minister Gopal Rai has asked all stakeholders to give their comments within a month so that suggestions can be incorporated in the report for acceptance and implementation.

The Minister had ordered the study on recharge of ground water in the national capital five months ago. His department then assigned Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), which has expertise in conducting such surveys, to conduct the study.

As per the report, water harvesting should be made mandatory in residential and commercial plots measuring 500 sq metre or more.

"Government should also ensure 100 per cent collection of solid waste with no dumping in drains, ponds, depressions.

"The report has recommended that all residential and commercial plots measuring 300 sqm should have soft soil in their front and there should be substitute porous paving to counter the preventive effect of highly-concertised surface," a Delhi government official said.

Other recommendations include implementation of building bylaws on local treatment of wastewater (wherever a premise generates 10,000 litres of waste water daily).