TNS

Chandigarh, September 2
The large-scale urbanisation has taken its toll on the groundwater resources in the districts falling in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Haryana. While painting a gloomy picture on the exploitation of groundwater, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has termed 31 zones as “dark zones” (over-exploited areas). The millennium city Gurgaon has four areas, Gurgaon, Pataudi, Sohna and Farukhnagar, declared as the “dark zones”.

According to the CGWB report, Palwal, Hodel and Hassanpur zones in the Palwal district have been declared as “dark zones” while Tauru, Ferozepur and Zhirka are the included in the list in the Mewat district. Faridabad zone in Faridabad district is also in the “dark zone”.

In Panipat district, Bapoli, Israna, Madlauda, Panipat and Samalkha zones are in the over-exploitated category while Ganaur, Rai and Sonepat are in the category in Sonepat district. Nahar, Bawal, Rewari and Khol in Rewari district, Badra, Dadri-I, Kairu and Loharu in Bhiwani district and Ateli, Mahendragarh, Kanina, Nangal Chaudhary and Narnaul in Mahendragarh district are the other areas declared as “dark zones” by the board.

On the question of action against persons and institutions indulging in over-exploitation of groundwater, officials said the district magistrates had been appointed as the authorised officers for the enforcement of the regulatory directions under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The district magistrates concerned have been authorised to take necessary actions such as seizure of drilling rigs, sealing of tube wells and discontinuation of electricity to the tube wells.

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