A story of
missing ponds and lakes and decreasing ground level in Gorakhpur
Intro-
Gorakhpur is slowly moving towards pure drinking water
crisis as lakes and ponds are silently losing their existence and substantial
quantity of fluoride and arsenic is also found in the water which causes
serious health problems. The denizens are not realizing the fact due to
unawareness and waste water. It is an alarming time and we should all join
hands to save water.
A story of
missing ponds and lakes and decreasing ground level in Gorakhpur
Since childhood we have been listening from our elders about
the importance of water through mythological and folk stories but it seems that
we have forgotten the teachings of our elders in order to bring urbanized
development. In the past few years the ground water level has gone down 22 feet
to 35-40 feet (as per the survey made by Gorakhpur environmental action group)
and most of the natural water sources are now missing from the city.
Unfortunately no one even care for supreme court guide lines , the denizens
don’t find it important to make complain regarding water wastage and
encroachment of natural water sources and even when it reaches
to the authorities, they just fill the formality quorum.
On the issue of missing lakes and ponds in Gorakhpur, Dr.
Shiraz Wajih says, president of an NGO (Gorakhpur environmental action group) working
on environment, says, “Once the city was also known as the city of ponds and
lakes but over the years very few are left with the district. As per 1951
municipal corporation records 238
natural water sources were in Gorakhpur including 62 big puddles ( Gadha), 101
puddles ( Gadhi), 42 small ponds (pokhri), 11 ponds ( pokhra), 16 small lakes
and 16 big lakes, but now only 17 such small and big water resources are left. The biggest lake
Ramgarhtal was in 1700 acre of land but now it has shrunk to 1200 acres only.
Chiluatal , Asuran Pokhra , Sumersagat pokhra, Jatashankar pokhra, Maidhiya Pokhra, Soorajkund Pokhra are either
gone out of existence or shrink to few percent of the original area. Sumer
Sagar pokhra was in 2.4 hectare area in Dharamshala ward has left with only 20%
of the original area. Most of the Jatashankar Pokhra is now inside the walls of
someone on which building is constructed.
Few years ago150 year old Mai Dhiya pond, encroached by real estate
developers. Many of the ponds have become totally nonexistent such as
Nathmalpur, Chaksa Hussain, Lachchipur, Fattepur, Salempur, Karimpur, Hamidpur and
Basharatpur.”
As per the environmental action group survey the water level
has gone down to 35 feet to 40 feet which not a good sign in terms of
environment and it is also affecting agriculture and health of people. Due to
encephalitis a huge number of India marked hand pumps are installed here and
during the construction of malls and tall buildings, huge quantity of water has
been ectracted from the ground in Gorakhpur which is among the causes of ground
water pollution in the area. Neha Mumtaz, research scholar in environment science
and engineering, says, “When huge amount of water is extracted from the ground,
pressure is created at ground level strata of earth and in result water
pollutant like fluoride and arsenic become soluble in water which is very
harmful for human body as fluoride adversely affects teeth and bones and
arsenic causes skin cancer. The upper
level of ground water in Gorakhpur is mostly contaminated due to unhygienic
conditions and open defecation in the area.
India marked hand pumps are necessary as it saves people from acute
encephalitis syndrome and other water borne diseases but it has negative aspect
too as it creates pressure on ground level strata of earth . The water
extraction during tall building construction does the same and Government
should bring proper guidelines for conservation of ground water during
construction. We have found fluoride and
arsenic in the water in Gorakhpur. The scarcity of water and low level of water
causes climate change as it affects rain cycle and leads to untimely rain which
adversely affects agriculture. Recently many farmers in our area committed
suicide due to untimely rain and ruined harvest. “
Fluoride and arsenic are very harmful substances and causes
serious health problems, says, Dr. Sushant Singh, Social worker and
pediatrician, “Fluoride when consumed in substantial quantity causes Fluorosis
which destroys teeth and accumulates in bones, leading to crippling skeletal
damage. With their bodies still growing, children are most at risk similarly
arsenic causes Arsenicosis which changes the pigmentation of skin and thickens
the skin. It also causes cancer of skin, lungs, kidney and bladder. There are
studies which shows that fluoride and arsenic, either alone or combined, can
decrease learning and memory ability.” “However, it has been observed that the
ingestion of calcium, vitamin C or vitamin D, individually, is effective in
protection from fluoride toxicity to a certain extent.” Singh added.
The assistant professor at MMM university of technology, Dr.
Govind Pandey, says, “ The huge extraction of water affects ground level water
at large scale and it could be checked with the use of pillar based
construction and latest technology during construction and also basements could
be made at comparatively upper level. We require strict rules against huge
water extraction and 3 Rs, reuse, reduce and
recycle of water could save us from the situation.” “Rain water
harvesting on roof and maintenance of natural ponds and construction of
artificial ponds is necessary for conservation of water.” Pandey added.
On the contrary renowned builder of the city, Shobhit
Agarwal says, “ extraction of water during construction of huge buildings
causes only one to one and half month of local effect on ground water and later
everything becomes normal. I don’t think it affects ground water level on the
whole and we all should go for rain water harvesting.” On asking him about the
Government guidelines on ground water level conservation in Gorakhpur, he said,
“No there are no such guidelines.”
On asking district magistrate, Ranjan Kumar on the issue, he
said, “For conservation and check encroachment of ponds and lakes, the
directions of regular monitoring is given. Time to time, the illegal
encroachment has been removed and also campaigns ran in this regard. “
We should join hands for saving water, Rohit Pandey,
photographer and businessman, says, “We all don’t care for water wastage from
water filters we use at home. Many buckets of water is wasted in order to
filter a bucket of water. Instead of wasting it we could use it for gardening,
cleaning and even toiletry purposes.”
Dr. Govind Pandey ,assistant professor at MMM university of
technology, says, “ lot of water is wasted with overflow from water tanks we
use at home, it could be controlled with giving back the water to the earth
with a pipe inserted deep in the ground and it will cost only Rs 2500-3000
extra.”
Arjumand Bano
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| Deo Pokhra in Gorakhpur |
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| Soorajkund Pokhra in Gorakhopur |
