NOIDA: A survey conducted by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Gautam Budh Nagar has revealed that groundwater tables have receded by an average of 1m annually between 2008 and 2012. The report says that major factors for the decline are irrigation, consumption of groundwater by industries and paving of green areas that does not allow natural percolation of rainwater, apart from large-scale extraction for construction activities.

The report adds that extraction of groundwater by Noida and Greater Noida authorities for potable supply to residents is also a major reason behind depletion. The authorities cumulatively extract 256.25 MLD water daily for supply.

The report — a copy of which is with TOI — was prepared by the board upon directions of National Green Tribunal in a case which alleges that excessive groundwater withdrawal by developers in the region is responsible for its declining levels. The tribunal has already imposed a blanket ban on extraction of groundwater by developers on the petition filed by Noida-based environmental activist Vikrant Tongad.

The report has been prepared by comparing water table data collated from across six locations in two blocks — Bisrakh and Dankaur. The board collected the data either from peizometers or wells located in Sectors 62A, 63, 72, 92, Chauki and Dankaur. The sharpest decline in water level has been recorded in Sector 62A. Peizometer readings show that water table has fallen by 8.64m between November 2008 and November 2012.

As part of the survey, the board also compared year-wise water table levels in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods of 2012 and 2013. Water tables have shown rapid declining trends in both cases in all locations surveyed.

The board has suggested in its report that 75% of average annual rainfall in the region, around 45 million cubic meters of water, should be used for effectively recharging groundwater.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/Groundwater-depleting-in-district-annually-by-1m/articleshow/25466199.cms