Receding groundwater level raises alarm

KANPUR: In an alarming trend, groundwater level in Kanpur city has gone down considerably in the last decade. Moreover, its quality has also deteriorated as the administration has not made any sincere effort to check harmful substances from seeping into the groundwater reservoir.
Experts maintain that groundwater level in the city is receding 40 cms to 70 cms every year.According to the available data, water level has gone down around 3 metres in the city in the last six years. The present water level in Kidwai Nagar is 27.77 metres in comparison to 23.90 metres in 2007. The water level in Fazalganj is 28.05 metres at present whereas in 2007 it was 25.60 metres. Similarly, in Rawatpur the groundwater level has receded 2 metres.
The data of National Hydrograph Network Stations of the Central Groundwater Board (CGB) of Kanpur Nagar shows a decline in water level for the last 10 years (1998-2007). In pre-monsoon period, decline in water level varies from 4 cm to 63 cm/year. Now, experts feel that if sincere and effective efforts are not made, days are not far when ground water level would go so low that hand pumps and borewells will stop supplying water to this already parched city.
The groundwater level is measured four times in a year by the network stations in Kanpur Nagar. There are 11 such stations at Bhitargaon, Bidhanu, Bithoor, Chaubepur, Motipurwa, Niwada Dhamni, Patara, Sachendi, Sakhjanwari, Sarh and Sheoli in the district.
The main reason for the declining trend is indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater. More than one lakh submersible pumps have been installed in private houses and around the same number of hand pumps along with 170 deep bore wells of Jal Sansthan are lifting more than 250 lakh litres of groundwater per day. In contrast, the average annual rainfall in the district is 821.90 mm per year, said an expert.
The other reason of depletion of groundwater level is the covering of ponds and reservoirs in the city which help in raising the level of ground water, he added.
Chandra Shekhar Azad University professor Naushad Khan said the city is now lifting water from the second underground layer which is situated at 130 feet to 160 feet. The geological department, which had measured the groundwater level at various localities in 2013, had observed that the difference in pre monsoon and post monsoon level is around one to three metre.
To prevent the situation from getting worse, the state government had introduced rainwater harvesting but due to the unhelpful attitude of KDA officials, the project could not be implemented properly and the rain harvesting system is now lying defunct. It is surprising that KDA has no records about the number of buildings which have installed rainwater harvesting system whereas the law clearly states that rainwater harvesting system must be installed in buildings having an area of 300 sq metre or more.
Another expert said, "The city's natural land area is fast receding due to increase in concrete jungle. Because of metalled roads and footpaths, most of the rainwater goes waste. Instead of percolating down into the earth, it passes through drains and nullahs. The laying of inter-locking bricks on footpaths has also added to the problem."