|
BMC
clueless about groundwater level
STUDY
AWAITED Gives permission to dig 71 bore wells in
city
Mumbai: The municipal corporation has said it
has no data on the city's groundwater table
level. But this year, it has given permission
for 71 bore wells. A groundwater level table
data is used to estimate the amount of water in
the city's belly and is critical while giving
permission to dig bore wells. As the city is
facing an acute shortage of water this summer,
applications seeking permission to dig bore
wells have increased manifold.
“Groundwater table data is the most important
piece of information as it allows us to know the
level of water and the natural holding capacity
of water at a particular place between November
and May when there is no rainfall. This is most
crucial while giving out permissions of bore
wells,“ water expert Madhav Chitale said.
Following a bad monsoon last year, the city is
already reeling under a 15 per cent water cut.
The large number of pipe bursts has further
added to the parched city's water woes. Sources
said that this year there has been a steep rise
in applications seeking permission for bore
wells as compared to the almost-zero
applications last year. “The Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation [BMC] does not have data
of the city's groundwater table level since
there has never been a geological survey done,“
said Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil
Diggikar.
Civic
officials said there had been a primary survey,
but a comprehensive groundwater table study is
still awaited to assess the most critical data
of available water levels. The BMC has only
restrict- ed the depth of bore wells and tube
wells to 100 ft based on a study on the city's
underground water level by Central Water and
Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune.
The
primary report submitted by CWPRS has revealed
that underground water is high on saline content
and is, there- fore, not fit for drinking. The
quality of water in the upper layers of the
earth is potable, but its quality deteriorates
on going deeper and becomes highly saline, the
report says.
This
is because a considerable part of Mumbai is
reclaimed sea land. The report suggested that
deep digging for bore wells and tube wells could
expose fresh water to saline water, thereby
rendering it unfit for use. (With inputs from
Sujit Mahamulkar)
The
municipal corporation has said it has no
data on the city's groundwater table level.
But this year, it has given permission for
71 bore wells. A groundwater level table
data is used to estimate the amount of water
in the city's belly and is critical while
giving permission to dig bore wells. As the
city is facing an acute shortage of water
this summer, applications seeking permission
to dig bore wells have increased manifold.
“Groundwater table data is the most
important piece of information as it allows
us to know the level of water and the
natural holding capacity of water at a
particular place between November and May
when there is no rainfall. This is most
crucial while giving out permissions of bore
wells,“ water expert Madhav Chitale said.
Following a bad monsoon last year, the city
is already reeling under a 15 per cent water
cut. The large number of pipe bursts has
further added to the parched city's water
woes. Sources said that this year there has
been a steep rise in applications seeking
permission for bore wells as compared to the
almost-zero applications last year. “The
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation [BMC]
does not have data of the city's groundwater
table level since there has never been a
geological survey done,“ said Additional
Municipal Commissioner Anil Diggikar.
Civic officials said there had been a
primary survey, but a comprehensive
groundwater table study is still awaited to
assess the most critical data of available
water levels. The BMC has only restricted
the depth of bore wells and tube wells to
100 ft based on a study on the city's
underground water level by Central Water and
Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune.
The primary report submitted by CWPRS has
revealed that underground water is high on
saline content and is, therefore, not fit
for drinking. The quality of water in the
upper layers of the earth is potable, but
its quality deteriorates on going deeper and
becomes highly saline, the report says.
This is because a considerable part of
Mumbai is reclaimed sea land. The report
suggested that deep digging for bore wells
and tube wells could expose fresh water to
saline water, thereby rendering it unfit for
use. (With inputs from Sujit Mahamulkar)
|