Face2News/Chandigarh 

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) convened a significant review meeting under the chairmanship of the Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, Home Secretary, ChandigarhAdministration, to assess the ground water status of Chandigarh. The meeting was attended by MC Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS and other senior officials from the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, which serves as the Nodal Department for Ground Water Management in the city.

During the meeting, the Regional Ground Water Authority presented an encouraging update — Chandigarh has been officially categorized as “Safe” in terms of ground water usage. The city is currently utilizing only 67% of its available ground water resources, ensuring sustainable consumption well within permissible limits.

The Chairman of the meeting lauded the concerted efforts of the Ground Water Authority and the Municipal Corporation for maintaining balanced extraction and promoting responsible water management practices in the Union Territory. He also acknowledged the importance of continued monitoring and community awareness to retain the city’s ‘safe’ status.

Importantly, the Chairman emphasized the urgent need to curb illegal borewell activities within the city. He directed concerned authorities to take strict enforcement measures and implement legal actions against unauthorized borewell operations, which pose a serious risk to the long-term sustainability of Chandigarh’s ground water reserves.

Officials from MCC reaffirmed their commitment to protecting water resources and ensuring that all ground water activities are conducted as per legal and environmental guidelines.

This meeting marks a critical step forward in Chandigarh’s journey towards sustainable water governance, underscoring the importance of inter-agency collaboration, regulatory vigilance, and community involvement in securing the city’s future water needs.