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Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj

Article · March 1999

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Tasaduk Ariful Hussain

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 VASANT KUNJ WATER CRISIS

A Monograph written by
Tasaduk Ariful Hussain
for
"Partners in Prosperity"

C-6/6048, Vasant Kunj,

New Delhi - 110070
India

Tel: + 91 11 612 4458 / 613 5371

Fax: + 91 11 612 4458 / 613 5372
Email: ecv@vsnl.com

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 1

 Purpose of the Monograph:

Partners in Prosperity was commissioned by the Indian Environmental Society under the
National Environment Awareness Campaign to write a monograph on the water situation in
Vasant Kunj and how the crisis condition can be overcome. The theme was to conserve water
and keep it clean.

Introduction:
More than 50 % of the 7,000 households in Vasant Kunj depend on water brought by tankers.
Extraction of water by tubewells - both legal and illegal has resulted in a fall in the water
table by more than 30 feet. Over the last five years. Without urgent measures for
conservation, reuse, recycling and recharge of ground water sources, the Vasant Kunj area
will be bereft of water in the next 15 years.

Methodology:
 We collected data on ground water availability and current extrasction rate through
surveys and secondary literature.

 We interviewed six opinion makers of Vasant Kunj to understand their perception of the
water crisis.

 We commissioned a writer to produce a monograph on the Vasant Kunj water crisis.

 We then interacted with opinion makers of Vasant Kunj in an effort to observe their
feedback on our findings and incorporate these in our monograph.

Sources of Water
There are three primary sources of water:

Surface Water: This is the water flowing in the rivers and streams and logged in lakes,
ponds and glaciers.

Ground Water: When it rains a part of the precipitation evaporates in to the atmosphere, a
proportion of it flows on the surface down slopes to stream channels as a surfacial storm
runoff, and the balance infiltrates in to the ground percolating slowly as subsurface ground
water.

Imported Water: The concept of imported water is a new addition to the human civilization.
In the ancient period, the water condition was the first criterion to determine habitation of
anyone. With the change of time the priority of the humankind has changed, rather forced to
change. Now people have started settling in a distant place from the source of water. That has
led to the concept of transporting water, initially by bullock carts or other cattle born
transportation system and now through pipes and water tankers.

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 2

Quality of Water

To understand the quality of drinking water the world Health Organization (WHO) suggested
certain limits of qualities for drinking water, particularly with regard to toxic element. Not
more than 162 million people living in the villages in India have access to safe drinking
water. In cities and town the situation is only slightly better. Most Indians have developed
immunity, and do not bother to set any standard on the quality of water, except ensuring
reduction or elimination of turbidness.
Drinking water standards (Potibility) prescribed by WHO in 1971 is as follows:

Constituents Highest desirable level Maximum permissible level

(PPM) (PPM)

Total dissolved solids 500 1500

Anionic detergents 0.2 1.0

Arsenic 0.01 0.05

Barium -- 1.0

Cadmium -- 0.01

Calcium 75 200

Chloride 200 600

Chromium -- 0.05

Copper 0.05 1.5

Cyanide 0.01 0.05

Fluorine 0.8-1.7 1.6-3.4

Iron 0.1 1.0

Lead -- 0.1

Magnesium 150 150

Manganese 0.05 0.5

Nitrate 40 45

Silver -- 0.01

Sulphate 200 400

Zinc 5.0 15.0

BOD 9.51 9.20

pH 7.0-8.5 6.5-7.0

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 3

The Water Situation of New Delhi

The city of Delhi covers an area of 1485 Sq. km. As per the 1991 census, the population of
Delhi was 93.7 lakh. The master plan - 2001 for Delhi envisages per capita domestic water
requirement of about 400 liters per day inclusive of distribution losses of the Delhi Jal Board
(almost 30%), which amount to about 4.88 MCM per day. The present availability of
domestic water through various treatment plants is only 2.38 MCM per day, thus leaving a
wide gap in demand and availability of water for domestic use. That is why the pressure on
ground water extraction is increasing and the ground water level of New Delhi is declining at
an alarming rate.

The Study Area

Water Situation in Vasant Kunj

Under the land use plan prepared by DDA in 1990, 381.45 Ha., of land has been allotted for
the residential area of Vasant Kunj. The number of people living in the apartments of Vasant
Kunj is 98,615 while those living in slums are about 1,200. The estimated water requirement
for the residential area is 3.5 MGD (Million Gallons per day) whereas, at present about 1
MGD filtered water is being given to Vasant Kunj, which is mixed with water from 70 tube-
wells.1

It is very clear that the water crisis in Vasant Kunj is a major challenge to the residents and
the development authorities for the colony. How can we meet this challenge? Is there any
possibility to augment water supply in this area? Is it possible to reduce the water
requirement in this locality? Is the water supply mechanism not adequate to meet the need?
Probably the answer to these questions lie in a detailed study of the growth, need and the
availability of water and its optimal utilisation.

Geography of Vasant Kunj

Vasant Kunj is located South of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, on
Mehrauli-Mahipalpur road with two urban villages of Mahipalpur on the west and
Krishangarh on the east, covering an area of 381.45 Ha.

This area was designated as poor agricultural land and hilly and rocky area under the land
classification done by the Town planning Organization, Ministry of Health, June 1956. This
land was less productive because of its higher gradient and poor soil conditions. It comprises
of substantial quantities of rock and clay. In the first master plane of Delhi (MPD - 1962)
barring a patch of land designated for queering. This area was a part of the 1.64 Km. wide
green belt and regional park which was to serve the purpose of limiting Delhi's physical
growth and prevent its merger with the neighboring town and other cities. This green belt was
recommended as the urbanizable limits in 1981. Land use in this green belt was to be
restricted to agricultural activities.

However due to pressure of Urban growth, the land use plan prepared by DDA in 1990, under
the master plane of Delhi - 2001, the areas under the green belt has been reduced, out of
which 381.45 Ha. of land has been allotted for the residential area of Vasant Kunj whose
population density has been fixed to 450 persons per ha.

Physiography of Vasant Kunj

1
According to Baleshwar Rai, CEO, Delhi Jal Board, 31st Jan’99.
Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 4
The topographic analysis of Vasant Kunj shows that, it is surrounded by the Aravali foothill
ranges. These foothills generally form the northeastern extension of the Aravali Mountain
Chain. Locally, the minor ridges are oriented in the Northeast-Southwest direction.

The area has been classified into four micro slope divisions. Less then 0.5%, 0.5-1%, 1-3%
and 3-5%. In most of the areas the slope is in the range of 1-3%. The general slope of Vasant
Kunj decreases from north to south.

To understand the natural ground water situation of Vasant Kunj, it is very important to know
the geology of the area. The Algonikian aged Delhi system of rocks is mainly the extension
of the foothills of the Aravali mountain chain. It is mainly composed of quartzite along with
the weathered product of clay, silt, kanker and crushed fragments. Whereas Aravali system is
consist of hard quartzite with inter callation of phyllites and conglomerates. The Delhi
quartzite are mainly overlained by the formation of alluvium of its own daughter product, in
the form of sandy silty and clayey formations along with leached and crushed rocks in places
indicating paleo-geotectonic activities. These older alluviums have been encountered with the
thickness of 10-15 meters, but the rock is exposed striking towards the NNE-SSW direction
at places. The hilly tracks are covered essentially by pre Cambrian Meta sediments of Delhi
System.

The structural features are responsible for the topography of the area that is mainly a network
of fractured folds, joints and bedding planes along with the weathered zones. Parts of Vasant
Kunj , especially C-3,4,5 and B-5,6,8,9,10, comprise of Delhi Ridge, which is mostly
composed of Alwar quartzite rocks. The remaining portion of Vasant Kunj is composed of
alluvial deposit of quaternary age. Alluvial quartzite is well stratified, thickly bedded, hard
and compact. This quartzite is intruded locally by pegmatite and quartzite, interbeded with
mica shists. They are highly jointed, fractured and weathered. Quartzite is ferruginous and
gritty types and on weathering and subsequent disintegration gives rise to coarse sand, which
is commonly known as Badarpur sand.

Alluvial deposits comprise unconsolidated clay, silt and sand with varying proportion of
gravel and Kankar.

Soil of Vasant Kunj

Soil has a major bearing on the surface and ground water situation of an area. According to
the land capability map of Delhi, prepared by National Bureau of soil survey (NBSS) and
land use planning (LUP), 1979, the soil of the area has been classified as IIe. It includes very
course loamy sandy loam to loam on nearly level to undulating lands susceptible to erosion.
Estimated available moisture capacity is 8cm in 60m in 100cm depth. This land requires
appropriate treatment to conserve soil and water.

Demographic Characteristics

Vasant Kunj is divided in to four sectors and the population recommended in that each sector
is as follows:

Sector A Sector B Sector C Sector D Total

No. of Dwelling units 1972 7150 4878 5723 19723
Population 9860 35750 24390 28615 98615

The total recommended population of Vasant Kunj is almost equal to the population of a
class -I town. Here population projection is done with a presumption of 5 persons per

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 5

dwelling unit. Expected growth rate is 0.8% to 1% per decade.

Types of Problems Existing in Vasant Kunj:

 Lack of quantity of water leading to increased dependence on spot sources
 Some areas were planned to depend on ground water. This is leading to the depletion of
water levels, indicating over exploitation of water in these areas.
 Water is being supplied through a booster pumping station installed in Vasant Kunj, the
low pressure of water and limited supply hours however have resulted in individual
storage. This increases the vulnerability to potential health hazards
 Lack of monitoring of water quality, particularly bacteriological qualities.
 No water supply in Sector B in the evenings, in SectorA/A the problem is particularly
acute.
 Short water supply hours (30 -45) minutes.
 Water is not regularly supplied
 Tube-well boring by Individuals
 Hard water with high salt content
 80% of the resident of this locality use household purification aid like aqua-guard or
filter.
 101.66 lpcd water used can be recyclable against 60.33 lpcd non-recyclable
 Water is supplied in Vasant Kunj by tankers. The quality of this water cannot be
continuously monitored. Additionally, there are losses of water in this transportation
method.

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 6

 Demand - Supply situation in Vasant Kunj

4000000
3500000
3000000
2500000
2000000 Demand

1500000 Capacity
1000000
500000
0
Sector A Sector B Sector C Sector D Total

Sectors Demand of water (G/D) Capacity (in Gallon/Day)

Sector A 5,00,000 4,10,000
Sector B 12,00,000 10,00,000
Sector C 11,47,000 7,00,000
Sector D 6,82,000 6,40,000
Total 35,29,000 27,50,000

Critical features of Water supply in Vasant Kunj

Some very important points to observe in the water supply situation of Vasant Kunj are
 70% of the Total water supplied to Vasant Kunj is from Ground water through 70 tube
wells. Sources say that there are many unauthorized tube-wells drilled by individual’s
initiative. Which is hampering the judicious use of the resource and also endangering the
proper planning for the optimized use of it.
 Water loss during transportation, exploitation and storage is 15%. By introducing some
extra care we may reduce the loss. But it is impractical to expect zero loss in the present
socio-economic context.
 It is very important to note that average 20% of the tube-wells stay out of operation in any
point of time. Is it acceptable? Is there any way to modify the situation? Increase the
efficiency?
 Per capita water availability, considering efficiency loss natural, is 106.14 lcpd. But the
master plan - 2001 for Delhi envisages per capita domestic water requirement of about
400 liters per day inclusive of distribution losses that amount to about 4.88 MCM per day.
 Per Capita water availability, in ideal condition, would be 152.54 lcpd. How will we meet
the deficit? Even the ideal condition could not meet our requirement.
 In the Mehruli Block ( under which Vasant Kunj falls) the pre and post monsoon water
levels goes down as below as 25 to 27 mbgl (meter below ground level). ( Source:
Environmental Status report, Delhi, 1996) It will decrease the efficiency of the tube-wells
seasonally permanently.

The relationship of drawdown with the different subsurface formations available in the area
and the role played by the discharge is shown in the following table.

Formation Depth domain (bgl) Well Discharge (gph) Drawdown (m)

Alluvium 30-115 4,000 -30,000 2.0 - 24.0
Quartzite 50 -150 500 - 4,000 1.5 -3.0

Source : CGWB Report, 1996

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 7
In high relief areas - in sector C-3,4,5 and B-5,6,8,9,10 - steeper topographic elevation and
quartzite formation, leads to a very high surface run off with less scope for rainwater
infiltration. The low permeability of these hard rock formations creates complex situation for
the occurrence and movement of ground water, which makes it, site specific. Generally in
these areas ground water occurs in weathered and fractured parts of rocks and there are
generally deeper aquifers in such regions.

Draw down in water table around Vasant Kunj

Over exploitation of Ground water is a major problem in the Vasant Kunj area. Though it was
not possible to understand the draw down level in the area under study from the direct data of
a well drilled in this area, still it is very easy to comprehend the prevailing situation through
the available information of the drawdown level of the surrounding locality of this area.

Site Depth drilled/ Depth Depth of water level Discharge/Drawdown

of well (m) (m) (L/M)
Mahipalpur 107/103 16.80 220/3.48
J.N.U. 93.8/93.8 16.35 265/3.48
Masudpur 124/120 22.56 110/1.26
Source : CGWB Report, 1996

Surface Water sources of Vasant Kunj

Rain is the main source of surface water in the area. The total annual normal rainfall of Delhi
is 611.8 mm out of which 87% (533.1 mm) occurs during the monsoon period and the rest
13% (78.7 mm) during non-monsoon period. Approximately 391.8 mm of the rainfall in
monsoon period goes as surface runoff and no run off in non - monsoon period. 80% of the
run-off can be used for storage, which can be used for ground water recharge.

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 8

Conclusions
 Water supply situation is not sufficiently satisfactory to meet the need of the Residents.
 Need of generating awareness to conserve water resource among the Resident of the
locality is strongly felt.
 Continuos monitoring of the pollution level of drink water should be done.
 Analysis of possible different water sources with proper ground water potentiality
measure is important to farther physical development of this locality.

Recommendations

Reduce Evaporation from water sources: Covering water surface with a barrier to inhibit
vaporization. Covers on roofs can be placed over small tanks, but the problem is more
difficult for larger water bodies. The commonly used methods are:

Liquid Chemicals- such as aliphatic alcohol that cover the water surface with a film one-
molecule thick.

Wax- Floating blocks of wax soften to form a continuous, flexible film on the water surface.
Solid blocks- such as light weights concrete, polystyrene, wax, rubber and plastic.
Sand-filled reservoirs- in which, water is stored in the pores between the particles of sand and
loose rock.

Stop seepage: Stop any kind of seepage on the storing vassal. Take special care to close the
tapes without any leakage when it is not in use.

Reduce Transportation: Transportation causes water loss. Cumulative amount of water lost
during such water transportation leads to a huge volume of loss.

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 9

Case Studies

“Water management of Delhi through out the history of the city before the British was based
on decentralized run-off harvesting through wells, step-wells and tanks; each such structure
catering for a limited number of people living in the vicinity though wells were also dug on
the roadside or in Sarais for public use as water table in medieval Delhi was quite high. Such
storage was done not only in the alluvial plains of Delhi but also in the hilly terrain at such
heights as Mehrauli, Vasant Vihar, Vasant Kunj, Tughlaqabad, Chragh Delhi etc. right on the
top of various ridges. In such a setup quality and quantity of water available was directly
dependent upon the care those took who were beneficiaries from this effort. In other words
nature care or otherwise was seen as directly affecting the quality of life of the people and
through this means self-interest of groups of people was combined with the general interest of
the society as a whole and of the state”, said Prof. Jawaad Ashraf, Jawaharlal Nehru
University.

He farther explained “The differences in the water management systems of the British and
their predecessors, both Sultanate and the Mughals, can only be understood in the light of
their two very divergent paradigmic visions based on two very different sources of energy,
town planning, civic amenities and over all organisation and functioning of the society and
state as a whole as paradigmic perceptions emerge from the overall perception of society and
culture as a whole which vision permits all societal aspects.”

In the pre British period water was never been a commodity, it was never sold. During British
period this traditional ‘Charity’ of ‘Water supply’ became a ‘commodity’ to be sold. It is
partly because of the colonial attitude of the British to earn money and exploit people while
serving the basic need of them.

During the Mughal period there was number of reservoirs owned by the community
supported by the government. The maintenance of the water resource was fully in the hands
of the beneficiaries. But during the British period water maintenance was with the
government. Community was to pay for each and every drop of water they used. When the
Sepoy Mutiny brooked, to control the agitation government dumped lime in eight ‘Khash’,
the then called water reservoirs to make the people to stop revolting and to be submissive to
the government.

May be that was the height of the examples of the colonial exploitation and colonial
domination. Ironically, we the independent Indians are still following the vary colonial
structure for our own fellow community.

For working for this monograph, the we wanted some basic information regarding the water
supply situation of Vasant Kunj. Naturally, we approached the engineer of Delhi Jal Board
of the locality. But the engineer expressed that he was not authorized to release any data. He
suggested, in a very co-operative way, to go to the authority higher up. The executive
engineer , then the superintendent Engineer was also talked to. The answer was the same.
Finally we were to write to the Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board.

The situation in collecting data for the Central Ground Water Board was also same. Even the
Officer in Charge of Central Ground Water Board was not authorized to release any data. He
suggested to write to the Chairman, who is responsible for Ground water of the entire
country. Now the question comes why these officials are not authorized? They don’t know
what they are doing as a part of their responsibility or they are not allowed to release the
secret of water supply. What is the secret in water supply? Has it some thing to do with the
national security? Why government couldn’t be transparent? Why a resident has to go to the

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 10

 top most authority of the country to understand where from his drinking water is coming and
how much of water he is using per day.

In the retrospect if we could realize that a resident is fully dependent on the government’s
water supply mechanism. Here the entire set up is confined a ‘service delivery’ system.
Government is responsible for delivering the service and community is the beneficiary of that
service. How much the beneficiary community is concerned about where from the water they
are using has come and how safe that water is to drink?

Can the government alone control the water supply in this area? Can a resident spend or
waste as much water as he/she wish and claim that the government is responsible for the
supply that. If we want to say ‘no’ to both the questions then where can we limit the
government’s responsibility and citizen’s capacity to use these resource?

Drinking Water Crisis of Vasant Kunj - Partners in Prosperity 11

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