MC Chandigarh’s bold initiative: Closing 17 tubewells for groundwater rejuvenation

In order to increase the ground water level, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has decided to shut 17 tube wells in different parts of the city in addition to taking strict action against the violators who illegally extract underground water and use it for commercial purposes in the city.

The MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra, IAS  accorded approval to shut 17 tube wells according to a report submitted by a team of expert engineers of MC Chandigarh. These tubewells are including R-9, Sector 10, Sector 7, RN-77, Near temple Sector 19, near TTTI Sector 26, Green Belt Sector 19, Green Belt Sector 27, Sector 18, near OHSR Sector 32, Green Belt Sector 38, RN-10, RN-11 Dadumajra Colony, RN-81, FJ-22, RN-13 and RN-12.

While sharing about this mission, the MC Commissioner said that ground water levels in some parts of the city are declining because of continuous withdrawal necessitated by increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization & urbanization etc. She said that a team of MC engineers surveyed and recommended shutting 17 tubewells aiming to increase the ground water table.

The Commissioner further said that for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation in the city, the Municipal Corporation has given special emphasis on creation of recharge structures, rejuvenation of traditional water bodies and rejuvenated 5 beautiful ‘Amrit Sarovars’ in city villages.
She said that MC Chandigarh fully abided the guidelines for groundwater regulation with an aim to promote efficient use of groundwater resources including controlling the drilling of tube wells by various consumers including industries, infrastructure projects and other commercial purposes.

She said that the MC Chandigarh has done notable work in the field of water conservation through special campaigns by issuing challans for wastage of drinking water on daily bases and issued 89 challans to the violators besides giving notices to 425 consumers throughout the city. With a commitment to water conservation, this daily drive continues until June 30th, 2024, she added.

She further said that MCC has taken another step in the field of water conservation by taking responsibility to replace faulty or defective water meters of consumers and replaced nearly 1051 defective water meters own its own by charging cost of water meter plus labour charges and testing fee through the water charges bills of the concerned consumers, who failed to replace it within stipulated time as per the decision of General House of MCC.