PLANNING PROPOSALS FOR WATER SUPPLY OF U.P. SUB REGION OF NCR

Abstract

The world is becoming more and more urban with passage of each century. India is no exception to this phenomenon and has experienced rapid urbanization during the last five decades. According to the census 2001, India has a population of 102.86 crores, of which the share of urban population is 28.61 crores. Of the total urban population, 38% is accounted in 35 metropolitan centers. Four mega cities, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai together account for more than 17% and about 4.5% reside in NCT-Delhi. To check explosive rate of population, a regional was selected named National Capital Region constituting NCT �â� � Delhi, seven districts of Haryana, five districts of Uttar Pradesh and one district of Rajasthan, ensuring the balanced and harmonized development of Delhi and its surrounding areas. Under this regional plan was prepared with detailed Sub �â� � regional Plans, prepared by respective State. The growth in urban population is a positive feature of economic development particularly as the combined contribution of services and industry to gross domestic product is significantly higher than that of agriculture. The growth has been so rapid and uncontrolled that urban planning and investment in infrastructure has proved to be insufficient, for example the demand for water and sanitation services is growing faster than cities can supply. The inadequate access to potable water and sanitation facility is assuming serious proportions and a major threat to public health. Though in U.P. Sub region of NCR, water situation is much better than other Sub regions but as per current trend, the water levels in Meerut, Bulandshahr and Ghaziabad districts of U.P. had declined by 0.15 to 2.50 meters during this decade up to 1995 and continue decreasing. The main problem is in urban areas where is iii population density is much more than average and ground water sources are not sufficient to fulfill present water demand. As per the study done here, block wise water availability and demand is calculated which shows that few block would come under over �â� � exploited zone where demand exceed than water availability, As per the study, it is analyzed that in U.P. Sub region the main source of drinking water is ground water and over exploitation of ground water is continue without any hindrance. There is no account of privately owned tube wells and exact figure of ground water extraction is still unknown. The over exploitation of ground water is again causing degradation of water quality. Hence there is urgent need to step ahead for providing adequate amount of water supply, through proper channel having equal utilization of surface water sources as well as check on privately owned tube wells so as to control the use of ground water. iv