AMC wants to save groundwater, but can’t stop digging borewells

In what seems to be a contradiction of sorts, the municipal commissioner is keen on reducing groundwater usage, while the civic body has continued digging new borewells to quench the thirst of the city.
Available figures reveal that Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has dug nearly 43 borewells in last five years and 14 more are under construction. Reason: The civic body is forced to use ground water as it has failed to achieve the golden goal of covering 100% area of AMC under water and drainage network by 2010.

AMC has dug 540 borewells till now in the city, of which 280 are in the vicinity of water distribution station and the remaining 260 are isolated. The borewells at isolated places are used regularly to provide drinking water to citizens in their vicinity. Those located within the water distribution station premises are used only in times of crisis.

In a bid to reduce consumption of groundwater, municipal commissioner Guruprasad Mohapatra instructed officials to stop using borewells. He also took a couple of decisions to reduce groundwater usage.

It should be noted that the municipal commissioner has also decided to provide sewerage water after tertiary treatment with an aim to reduce ground water usage. Moreover, the commissioner has also proposed to set up mini tertiary treatment plant at civic body gardens with same reason.

Officials of the water resources department have started the exercise of identifying isolated borewells which can be closed down. “With increasing water supply network in new east areas of the city, we can stop use of around 100 borewells,” said a senior official of AMC’s water resources department.

Meanwhile, in contradiction to the AMC chief’s instructions, the civic body has continued digging new borewells. “In last five years, the civic body has dug 31 borewells in EWS colonies and 14 as isolated borewells. The work on 14 more is going on,” said the official.   

The opposition Congress has described digging of new borewells as sign of failure to provide Narmada water to the citizens. “The BJP had promised to bring 100% city area under drainage and water supply network. As they have failed to do so, more borewells need to be dug, affecting groundwater level,” said Badruddin Shaikh, leader of opposition i n AMC.

On the other hand, the BJP defended the decision of digging more borewells. “It is not advisable to rely on just one source of water. In times of emergency we need alternate resources,” said Bhupendra Patel, chairman of AMC’s standing committee.