A fervent appeal to Colony and Government Authorities
It is said that a man can survive on an average for three days without water. Imagine the plight of our parks opposite N-81A, N-99 and N-101 that have received a tiny fraction of their requirements over the last many years and there is still a struggle to make things happen.
The plight started when these parks were handed over by the DDA to the MCD in October 2021. DDA was supplying water to the parks opposite N-99 and N-101 from the ASI park behind N block till these were under DDA’s jurisdiction (N-81A park is a different story and has virtually been abandoned in terms of any maintenance or watering support for the last over 5 years). After the handover, MCD did not work out anything viable to water these parks on a sustainable basis and the parks have suffered since then.
In January 2023, the Managing Committee approved water to be taken from the Panchshila Montessori School. The school makes water available between 9 am to 1 pm. This water is used for the two parks on alternate days, but the quantum barely suffices for the plantations. The land, grass and the trees go without water and only depend on the rain. To add to the woes, during summer, when the swimming pool in the school becomes functional for the kids, the parks often go without any water.
The extreme heat situation this year, and the shortage of water, is having a drastic impact on both the parks. The park opposite N 99 specifically, has a totally dried up surface with no grass and the winds are simply blowing dust all round, adding to pollution in that area.
Based on the author’s understanding, we now have two options, that can be expedited with interventions by the Society/RWA.
The first option is to start supplying water from the tubewell next to N-81A, which was historically used to supply water to the parks opposite N-99 and N-101. After a lot of effort by the Society and the RWA, a meter has been installed this month at this tubewell by BSES. The motor serving this tube well has unfortunately not been used for more than 5 years and will need immediate repair/replacement. Once it is made functional, the pipe carrying the water from there to the park opposite N 99 will have to be checked for breach/leakage which will then be repaired. Only after all this is done will the water hit the parks. It is noteworthy that, even after we start receiving this water, we need to take care of three parks including the one behind N 81A. This solution is therefore necessary but not sufficient. Hence, the second option in parallel becomes critical.
There is a tubewell opposite N-117 and adjoining N-155 which was being used for supplying water to the ASI DDA Park behind N block. Based on a complaint, this provisioning was stopped a few months ago. It is possible to take water from this tube well to the park opposite N-101, but this would require permission from the Delhi Jal Board which owns the pump, and then by the MCD to provision the water by laying a pipeline till N-101. Incidentally, there also exists another tube well behind N-66 and adjoining the N-99 park. This was however shut down more than 15 years ago and there is allegedly an ongoing dispute of pending dues between BSES and the MCD/DDA. In view of this, it would be prudent to pursue the solution of provisioning water through the tube well opposite N-117. This matter of getting relevant permissions was allegedly taken up by the RWA with the Councilor and the MLA more than a year ago but no action has been taken as yet.
We need to work speedily on both the options and use the collective muscle and relationship of the Society and the RWA management teams with the government authorities to make this happen. This matter was brought to the attention of the Society and RWA on 15th June 2024 through an email by the author. To their credit, Mr. Pankaj Vats, Managing Committee member, associated with Society matters, immediately called the author for a meeting to understand the situation and has promised to act on this matter next week itself.
In the interim, our prayer is to organize tankers to take care of at least the park opposite N 99 whilst we use up whatever water is being received from the school to take care of the park opposite N 101. This can be initiated with immediate effect. Hopefully, we will not have to do this for more than a few weeks as the monsoon would be round the corner.
We sincerely hope that the Managing Committee of the Society, in coordination with the RWA wherever necessary, will be able to work together as a team to restore sustainable and adequate water supply to the three parks.
