Meerut Citizen Forum slaps notice to Meerut Jal Nigam and Nagar Nigam for ignoring PM Modi & CM Yogi’s flagship Jal Shakti Mission

Meerut, Feb 12 (KNN) Keeping in view the alarming water situation in the region, Meerut Citizens Forum (MCF) has sent a notice to Meerut Jal Nigam and Meerut Nagar Nigam informing them of the Dharma that the forum is organizing to protest against the bodies for not taking adequate measures under PM Modi’s flagship Jal Shakti Abhiyaan.

Copy of the notice have also been marked to PM Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other Ministers and State Government and Central Government officials.

MCF is a NGO consisting of a group of committed citizens dedicated to assist the local administration to work towards improving the quality of life of people in the city,

After making failed attempts to seek action from Meerut Jal Nigam and Nagar Nigam regarding proper distribution of Ganga water and stop unnecessary extraction of drinking water, the Forum has decided to organize a Dharna at Choudhary Charan Singh Park on March 4, 2020 from 11 AM to 1 PM.

In the notice, MCF highlighted that Meerut being the 26th most populated city in the country needs 280 lakhs litres of drinking water every day. In Meerut city about 97 tube-wells were in use for the supply of drinking water for a population of 14 lakh (2008-2009).

To cater to the population of Meerut considering the available water and keeping in view the future requirements, a drinking water scheme worth Rs. 341 crores was prepared, MCF said.

The scheme included 100 lakh liters of Ganga Jal from Upper Ganga Canal at Bhola village point to Meerut city was also included. This has been completed in September 2019. Currently 416 lakh liters of drinking water (316 from tube-wells and 100 from Ganga Canal) may be available, whereas for the present population (approximately 18 lakh), as per current supply norms, only 280 lakh liters of drinking water is required.

“In this way, the tube-wells extracting surplus 136 lakh liters of ground water can be closed,” MCF said elaborating that they have been taking up the matter with the Meerut Jal Nigam.

They said only half the Ganga Jal is being distributed in the city and all tube-wells are running.

MCF is of firm view that not using full Ganga Jal and not closing the surplus tube wells extracting ground water is contrary to the serious efforts of the Central Government in Jal Shakti campaign.

Central Government had in 2019 launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan to deal with the crisis and curb constantly depleting under-ground water table.  Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a collaborative effort of various Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, being coordinated by the DDWS.

Under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, emphasis has been laid on rain water harvesting, maintenance and upkeep of ponds and village tanks, conservation of water rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, reuse, bore well recharge structures, watershed development and intensive afforestation.

Another important aspect of the Abhiyan is closing the tube wells unnecessarily extracting the under-ground water.

Working towards this endeavor, MCF has repeatedly approached Meerut Jal at various levels to execute the missing links for proper distribution of full Ganga Jal and closing the surplus tube-wells. But so far, Jal Nigam Meerut has not made any efforts in this direction.

“The Meerut Nagar Nigam has also become of mute spectator in all this and not doing anything to save water, save Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship Jal Shakti Abhiyan and save our Mother Earth,” said MCF.

To seek attention of the decision makers and authorities, a peaceful dharna is being organized on March 4, 2020 at Choudhry Charan Singh Park, the Forum added. (KNN Bureau)

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