Water reservoir project hangs fire amid land unavailability issues

The Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA) has again taken up its demand regarding the transfer of around 100 acres of land for its proposed project of developing a large water reservoir-cum-groundwater recharging spot with the Ministry of Defence of the Union Government. The proposal submitted earlier this year had been rejected. Another proposal of acquiring around 40 acres of land in two villages located near the Yamuna river basin has also been awaiting its final approval.

According to sources in the district administration, while the plan to construct at least two major water reservoirs near the bank of the Yamuna had been taken up more than a year ago, the progress is yet to come as the issue of availability of the land stays unresolved.

Claimed to be the first of its kind water harvesting projects, these are aimed at recharging the groundwater resources as the city’s drinking water supply system is dependent mainly on groundwater sources and the water table in the region had been on decline for the past few decades.

A few months ago, in its response to the FMDA’s proposal, the Union Ministry responded in negative regarding the demand of transfer of its land located near Tilpat village in the district. However, the matter had again been taken up with the department concerned with the hope that they would get a positive response this time, said an FMDA official. The total land here has been around 300 acres.

The FMDA has also been pursuing the transfer of another 40 acres of panchayat land in Chandpur and Immuddin villages that are also located near the river. The move is awaiting the final approval. The floodwater from the Yamuna will be stored and harvested in the six-feet-deep reservoirs to recharge the water table.

“Since there is an urgent need of restoring and maintaining the water table in order to meet the demand as per the master plan of 2040, this plan will not only help in enhancing the recharging capacity of the groundwater but also ensure a stable source of fulfilling the drinking water needs of the city for many decades,” said an official.

As around 12 Ranneywells have been supplying up to 325 MLD of water, the FMDA is working on the construction of another 12 Ranneywells on the banks of the Yamuna to enhance the water supply. The city is faced with a shortage of around 150 MLD of water.

Vishal Bansal, Chief Engineer, Water and Sewage Wing, FMDA said the process of seeking possession of the land from the Defence and the Panchayat departments was underway.