Over 300 water bodies in Delhi are in bad shape. 196 out of 1,080 have dried up,135 are encroached. This grim picture comes from a report by the Wetland Authority of Delhi (WAD) to the National Green Tribunal (NGT),showing how urgent it is to save the capital's lakes,ponds and wetlands.
The report follows an NGT order for land-owning agencies to detail water bodies under their care . 16 agencies replied,painting a worrying state. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) holds most, with 856,then the revenue department with 130,forest department with 28,others down line.
Even with this list,the report's not full. Many agencies gave incomplete info,missing key details like encroachment status,land use,water quality . For instance,the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) listed six water bodies but detailed just one. Of DDA's 856,181 dried up,126 are encroached.
Water quality checks were done for only 108 spots. 95 rated poor,two moderate,just 11 good . DDA told the tribunal it has plans to rejuvenate 182 water bodies,demarcated 111 . Of these,60 in built-up areas,53 in parks,nine in temples,28 are tourist spots . Alarmingly,treated sewage water enters 20 of these.
Revenue department reported three encroached,six dried-up among its 130 . Demarcation done for 94,estimates for rejuvenation ready for 38,no plan yet for encroachments. Two water bodies missing from records.
From forest department's 28 sites,one encroached,two dried up,demarcation done for 13. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) demarcated 21 of 24 water bodies. None encroached,22 getting untreated sewage,four dried up. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reported 14 of 16 well-preserved for tourism,two dried and encroached .
South West Delhi has most water bodies,291,Outer North 266,South 156. Other districts like North East,East have far fewer,only 14 in Central, five in New Delhi,four in Old Delhi. Another 35 are in DDA’s O-Zone.
Experts say poor stormwater recharge is a big threat. Activist Diwan Singh points out stormwater drains aren't linked to most water bodies, blocking natural refill. Sewage influx makes restoration tough,while encroachments linger. “All these problems can be addressed,but they require sustained administrative action,” Singh said.
