The Silence of Dry Beds: Where Delhi's Forest Ponds Vanished

Imagine, if you will, a wildlife sanctuary. You picture lush greenery, perhaps a rustle in the bushes, and almost certainly, the glint of water—a life source, a magnet for creatures great and small. But here in Delhi, within the very protected folds of the Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and the Chhattarpur forests, a troubling, almost unbelievable story is unfolding. Six crucial water bodies, once teeming with life, have simply… disappeared. Vanished, as if they were never there.

It’s a peculiar, almost haunting silence, honestly, that has replaced the gentle lapping of water in these places. We’re talking about two specific ponds deep within Asola-Bhatti, vital spots for, well, everyone really, from the local leopard to countless birds. And then, further afield, four more water bodies scattered across the Chhattarpur forests—Ghoda Farm, Ghitorni—all now just barren stretches of earth. This isn't just about a few puddles drying up; it's about significant ecosystems collapsing.

But where did the water go, you ask? The official line, or perhaps the unofficial one, points to a lack of upkeep, a profound absence of rejuvenation efforts. It’s a bitter irony, isn’t it, considering the consistent directives from various authorities over the years? Back in 2018, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was pretty clear: Delhi’s government needed to get its act together, ordering all water bodies across the capital to be revived within a mere two months. Two months!

And yet, here we are. Fast forward to 2022, and the NGT had to issue yet another directive, essentially saying, “No, really, we mean it this time.” They even set a firm deadline. And then, as recently as last year, none other than Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena himself toured Asola-Bhatti and Ghitorni. He saw the potential, he saw the need, and he personally ordered rejuvenation, giving a timeline of six to nine months. He even declared it “doable,” a sentiment that, frankly, now feels a little hollow given the current state of affairs.

And it's not like there wasn't money. The Delhi government, in 2021-22, actually earmarked a rather hefty sum—Rs 100 crore, mind you—specifically for the rejuvenation of water bodies. One has to wonder, then, where did those funds go? Or perhaps, more accurately, why didn't they reach these particular, now-vanished oases?

The consequences, naturally, are dire. This isn't merely an aesthetic problem; it’s an ecological catastrophe in miniature. For local birds, for migratory species that rely on these spots as critical stopovers, and for all the other animals—like that leopard mentioned earlier, whose very survival might have depended on a now-dry pond—this is a genuine crisis. Their homes, their hydration points, their very existence in these areas are now jeopardized. You could say it’s a silent alarm ringing, a stark warning about how quickly neglect can unravel nature’s delicate balance.

It’s almost frustrating, because there are success stories. Take Bawana, for example, a non-protected forest area, where the forest department did manage to rejuvenate a pond. And what happened? Migratory birds flocked there, life returned. It proves it can be done, doesn't it? It proves that with concerted effort, with real commitment, these places can, indeed, be brought back to life.

Officials, you see, will often point to challenges, things like the elusive nature of water sources. But environmental experts, those who truly understand these things, insist that solutions like rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging are not just viable, but necessary. They’re not some far-fetched dream. So, while we hear about efforts to restore 54 lakes across Delhi, and some have reportedly been completed, the six in Asola-Bhatti and Chhattarpur stand as grim reminders. Reminders, I suppose, that sometimes, despite all the orders, all the funds, and all the good intentions, a piece of our precious natural world can just… vanish.