According to the report, as the bores go down, liquid effluents come off the digs, seep into the water and pollute it with heavy metals, fluoride, nitrate and saline residues. The CGWA data have identified Alipur, Najafgarh, Kanjhawala, Mehrauli and Shahdara blocks as most affected. The groundwater in these blocks carry profuse traces of nitrate, heavy metals and saline, The Times of India reported.
Incidentally, these localities fall under three NCT districts, enlisted in 11 notified areas of the country which CGWA had prepared between 1998 and 2000.
By that notice, the authority had asked state governments to refrain from digging any bore-well without having obtained its permission in advance.
"But rules are made for statute books and not for practice," commented a top CGWA scientist satirically on condition of anonymity. "Practice of digging bore-wells is continuing in Delhi unabated," he added. These activities also flout the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 which asks for an institutional structure for preventing and abating water pollution.
The Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which was constituted under this Act, is also additionally empowered to oversee such clandestine activities. The Act aims to set up standards for water quality and effluents. Industries which end up releasing effluents in the water bodies and groundwater reserves are legally bound to seek permission before embarking upon their jobs, so that proper effluent management be put in place well in time. Digging bore-wells also falls under this activity, said the scientist.
As on date, underground water quality in NCT has been threatened by effluents from factories, clandestine bore-well digging and lackadaisical effluent management, said the report.
Source: The Times of India
