Groundwater Level: Alarming Depletion Rate of Groundwater in Noida and Greater Noida | Noida News
Noida: The city’s groundwater level dropped by 9.9m in the post-monsoon months and 8.5m in the pre-monsoon months between 2017 and 2023 due to limited rainfall and recharge. In the pre-monsoon months, the groundwater level plummeted to 22.5m in 2023 from 14m in 2017. In the post-monsoon months, the groundwater level dropped from 13.1m in 2017 to 23m in 2023.
“In Noida, we set up 11 groundwater monitoring stations with piezometers (digital water level recorders). In 2017, at four stations, the groundwater level data was inconclusive on account of a fault in the piezometer, but even then, the rate of depletion from 2017 to 2023 was recorded at 9.9m in the post-monsoon months, which is alarming,” said Ankita Ray, a hydrologist in the groundwater department.
Noida’s Aghapur in Sector 41 was the worst affected, with an average depletion rate of 17m, followed by Garhi Chaukhandi (11.5m) and Phase 3.
In Greater Noida, the groundwater level in the pre-monsoon months fell by only 2.8m in the corresponding period.
“There is an urgent need to recharge the groundwater table, especially in the city. Steps must be taken to ensure that illegal groundwater extraction is checked,” added Ray.
City-based environmentalist Vikrant Tongad blamed the rapid pace of urbanisation and concretisation. “Clearly, there is a big gap in the rate of extraction of groundwater and its recharge, and authorities need to heed the warning before the water table runs dry,” he said.
“Not long ago, there were a number of water bodies, but they have disappeared due to rapid urbanisation. From industries to commercial establishments to residential areas, all are extracting groundwater with scant regard to rules. Apathy on the part of authorities is only adding to the problem,” he said.
Rainwater harvesting and de-concretisation of roads and parks should be taken up with urgency. “The drains have been concretised, which does not allow water to sieve into the ground. Rainwater harvesting rules have been included in building bylaws but are not followed. In many societies, the system installed for rainwater harvesting hardly works, while the system is not installed in others,” he added.
“In Noida, we set up 11 groundwater monitoring stations with piezometers (digital water level recorders). In 2017, at four stations, the groundwater level data was inconclusive on account of a fault in the piezometer, but even then, the rate of depletion from 2017 to 2023 was recorded at 9.9m in the post-monsoon months, which is alarming,” said Ankita Ray, a hydrologist in the groundwater department.
Noida’s Aghapur in Sector 41 was the worst affected, with an average depletion rate of 17m, followed by Garhi Chaukhandi (11.5m) and Phase 3.
In Greater Noida, the groundwater level in the pre-monsoon months fell by only 2.8m in the corresponding period.
“There is an urgent need to recharge the groundwater table, especially in the city. Steps must be taken to ensure that illegal groundwater extraction is checked,” added Ray.
City-based environmentalist Vikrant Tongad blamed the rapid pace of urbanisation and concretisation. “Clearly, there is a big gap in the rate of extraction of groundwater and its recharge, and authorities need to heed the warning before the water table runs dry,” he said.
“Not long ago, there were a number of water bodies, but they have disappeared due to rapid urbanisation. From industries to commercial establishments to residential areas, all are extracting groundwater with scant regard to rules. Apathy on the part of authorities is only adding to the problem,” he said.
Rainwater harvesting and de-concretisation of roads and parks should be taken up with urgency. “The drains have been concretised, which does not allow water to sieve into the ground. Rainwater harvesting rules have been included in building bylaws but are not followed. In many societies, the system installed for rainwater harvesting hardly works, while the system is not installed in others,” he added.