Vanishing Waters: The Quiet Battle for Delhi's Imperiled Wetlands

You know, sometimes you read a report and it just hits you differently. This week, the National Green Tribunal – the NGT, as we often call it – received an update on Delhi’s precious water bodies, and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, to say the least. Six out of twenty-eight water bodies, those green-blue oases managed by the city’s forest and wildlife department, are currently grappling with encroachment. Six, out of a mere twenty-eight. It makes you wonder, doesn't it?

For a city like Delhi, perpetually battling air quality issues and ever-expanding concrete jungles, these water bodies aren't just pretty spots for a picnic. They are vital arteries, ecosystems, crucial sponges for our monsoons, and frankly, a breath of fresh air in every sense of the word. And yet, here we are, facing a stark reality: land sharks, or perhaps just opportunistic builders, are slowly but surely gobbling them up.

The department’s status report, filed rather dutifully with the NGT, paints a somewhat troubling picture. Out of the 28 water bodies they oversee, two are completely lost, utterly subsumed by illegal occupation. We're talking about Hauz Rani and Shahpur Jat – once, perhaps, serene spots, now victims of unbridled development. But wait, it doesn't stop there. Four more are partially encroached upon. Think about it: Jonapur, a corner of the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary (yes, even a sanctuary isn't safe), Sultanpur, and another patch near Jaunapur-Chandanhola Road. It's a slow creep, a nibbling away at our natural heritage, and it's happening right under our noses.

This isn't exactly new news, mind you. The NGT, in its infinite wisdom and much-needed environmental vigilance, has been on this case for a while. Back in 2020, they issued clear directives, urging the identification and protection of all water bodies, especially those vital urban wetlands, following a public interest litigation. So, this latest report, in a way, is a response to that ongoing pressure. The department, bless their hearts, assures us they’re working on it, committing to the demarcation and restoration of all 28 sites.

And it's a monumental task, truly. Imagine trying to reclaim land that someone has already started building on. It involves legal battles, survey work, and a whole lot of coordination – they're even roping in the Delhi Jal Board for demarcation efforts, which is smart, you could say. They’ve even initiated legal proceedings against some of these encroachers, a crucial step, one would think, in showing that this isn’t just a paper exercise. Plus, they’re still out there, surveying the city for even more unidentified water bodies, because, in truth, the true number might be far higher than we even know.

So, while 15 of these water bodies are, thankfully, reported as ‘rejuvenated/demarcated/protected’ and another five are ‘free from encroachment’ – a small victory, perhaps – the battle is far from over. It’s a constant tug-of-war between urban sprawl and ecological preservation. And as we watch Delhi expand, perhaps we should all pause and ask ourselves: at what cost are we paving over these precious, life-giving waters?