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Noida's Water Woes: Colonial Canal to the Rescue?
3 Sep
Summary
- Noida was founded on poor soil with unusable groundwater.
- A 19th-century canal now supplies over half of Noida's water.
- Groundwater levels in Noida have fallen drastically, classified as 'over-exploited'.
Noida, established in 1976, was built on land characterized by poor soil and unusable brackish groundwater, a departure from traditional settlements along rivers. Initially planned to house Delhi's industries, the city's development neglected a crucial aspect: a reliable source of drinking water.
Residents experienced years of salty tap water, impacting daily life and fostering a private market for water purifiers. The city's growth as a metropolis was thus founded without a sustainable water infrastructure.
Ironically, Noida's current water supply largely depends on the Upper Ganga Canal, built by Sir Colonel Proby Cautley between 1848 and 1854. It took Noida's administration 38 years to establish a pipeline from Ghaziabad, with the Ganga water only reaching taps by 2014.
As of July 2024, Noida requires approximately 407 million litres of water daily. While the Ganga canal supplies 58% (240 MLD), the remainder comes from blended, saline groundwater. The canal's maintenance and pipeline breakdowns cause supply disruptions for 30-40 days annually.
This unreliability has spurred a shadow economy. Unregulated local RO water services, using water from unauthorized borewells, cater to lower-income groups. Wealthier residents invest in expensive RO systems or bottled water, exacerbating plastic waste.
The relentless demand has led to a severe depletion of groundwater. Levels have dropped significantly, with extraction rates at 105% of replenishment, classifying the region as 'over-exploited' or 'critical.' Despite regulations and penalties, illegal borewell extraction by real estate projects and businesses continues, with thousands operating unofficially.
The Yamuna River is polluted, the canal supply is inconsistent, and the water table is critically low, highlighting Noida's urgent need for a sustainable water solution.
