Dying water bodies in Delhi could lead to destruction of the natural environment in the city and this can have adverse impact on human habitat. Environmentalists have said while planning the infrastructure development activities, the planner should take the River Basin Approach (RBA).
“Besides Yamuna, there are other small water bodies too and they are on the verge of extinction. Before planning a township or any development project, a research on flood plane carrying capacity should be done which is not being done by real estate mafia,” said Gopal Krishna, ecologist, Anti Toxic Watch Alliance, Delhi.
According to environmentalists, the annihilation of natural water bodies will affect the whole ecological system. “land, flora, fauna and aquatic and terrestrials animal are the part of ecological system and they cannot be counted separately. And for urban cities like Delhi, it is very important to protect and revive water bodies because the healthy existence of water bodies can help to maintain good groundwater level,” said Krishna.
He further said due to concretisation, the rain harvesting method is also not being fully utilised. “Rainwater harvesting system is essential as it is a lifeline for water bodies,” the environment scientist emphasised while describing the ecological importance of water bodies.
Taking the matter into cognisance, hydrogeologists also said in order to save the water bodies, there is a need for RBA planning.
“Although the present scenario about groundwater is good, but to maintain good water levels, it is important to save the critical water bodies especially on the basis of topography as water level is different,” said a groundwater engineer in Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
While explaining about the RBA planning, a water engineer said that basin planning is the process by which decisions are made over the competing uses and different demands for water resources and associated systems within a basin.
“The basin plans set objectives and the measures for developing, protecting and harnessing the resources of the basin in order to achieve the objective of health and safety of a water body,” said the expert.
“The basin planning can bring together a range of different disciplines and themes, from hydrology and engineering to ecology and economics,” he said further.
Augment depleting groundwater
As per the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in view of unavoidable reliance on groundwater, there is a pressing need to augment the depleting groundwater reserves.
According to a report on Delhi water bodies by CSE, in order to enrich the local water regime and sustaining the tube wells in local areas, there is a need to save water bodies. “To save the habitats for aquatic and avian bio-diversity which is vanishing from Delhi and to increase soil moisture to support enhanced vegetation growth in the localised area,” CSE report stated.