Generating water in Jharoda Kalan

NEW DELHI: In Jharoda Kalan village a silent effort is on to provide water to its residents. The Indian National Trust for Art Culture and Heritage (Intach), in association with the Delhi state government, has taken up the job of developing the catchment area of an old pond there.
The pond will be able to generate water for half the village’s population.And if preserved, the pond will suffice for quarter of its population projected for 2021. If the project proves successful, work will start on four more ponds.
‘‘This will mean enough water for the entire village. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) tankers won’t be necessary any long,’’ said Manu Bhatnagar of Intach’s Delhi chapter.
Intach will also educate people not to discharge waste water into the pond. ‘‘These ponds can be used to decentralise water supply. The pond will be connected to a tubewell and its water can be chlorinated locally,’’ said Bhatnagar.
Jharoda Kalan being at the end of the distribution network hardly gets any water. Last week residents came out on the streets to protest non-availability of water.
Bhatnagar said there were 508 ponds in Delhi which can be preserved to augment water supply. The catchment area around these ponds is fertile and groundwater conditions are better.
Intach stumbled upon the area during a survey of 508 ponds following a high court order asking it to study how many ponds could be converted into tourist spots.
The double Bench of justices Anil Dev Singh and O P Dwivedi delivered the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the preservation of water bodies. The PIL was filed by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) — Tapas.
According to Vinod Jain of Tapas, the high court has also directed civic bodies to preserve water bodies that are under their jurisdiction.
During its initial survey Intach found most of the ponds were small and could not be developed as tourist spots. About 184 are above one hectare but it is not possible to access them easily.