Houses and walls choke Aravali water channels feeding dam & Surajkund lake
Faridabad: Seven drainage channels that carry rainwater from the Aravali hills to Surajkund lake have been “encroached” upon in Anangpur village.Seeking restoration of the watercourses and removal of obstructions, residents of Anangpur — which is located in Faridabad district — have told the Supreme
By Ipsita Pati
Faridabad: Seven drainage channels that carry rainwater from the Aravali hills to Surajkund lake have been “encroached” upon in Anangpur village.Seeking restoration of the watercourses and removal of obstructions, residents of Anangpur — which is located in Faridabad district — have told the Supreme Court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) that these encroachments have disrupted a centuries-old drainage network and increased the risk of flooding in the area.In a representation submitted to the CEC, residents said houses, boundary walls and other constructions have come up along natural drains and seasonal nalas that form part of a larger drainage system linking the Aravalis, Anangpur dam and Surajkund lake.The residents have submitted maps marking the seven drainage channels across the village and sought a fresh demarcation exercise to establish their original alignment.
They have urged authorities to identify encroachments, clear obstructions and restore the natural flow of water from the Aravalis to Surajkund lake.A visit by TOI to locations, identified by residents as part of the drainage network, found large warehouses, high boundary walls and enclosed compounds at several points along the drain alignments.
In some locations, sprawling metal-clad industrial sheds stood adjacent to open tracts through which villagers said rainwater once flowed from the Aravali foothills.
Elsewhere, long brick walls stretched across low-lying land that residents identified as part of the natural drainage corridor.Ecologist Sunil Harsana told TOI, “These drains are the veins of the Aravali watershed.
They carry rainwater from the hills to Surajkund and help recharge groundwater.
Once they are blocked, the entire drainage system collapses, increasing the risk of flooding and waterlogging.”According to the petition, the encroachments have narrowed or blocked several stretches of these channels, affecting the natural flow of rainwater through the village. “The natural flow of rainwater from the Aravali hills to Surajkund lake has been obstructed due to encroachments on the nalas and drainage channels passing through Anangpur village,” residents said in their representation to the CEC.The residents pointed to the historic Anangpur dam, a protected monument, believed to date back more than a thousand years, and Surajkund lake as evidence of an ancient water-harvesting system that depended on these drainage routes.
They contended that the encroachments have fractured this hydrological link and undermined the ecological functions performed by the drains.The petition says that the drainage channels are part of a historic hydrological system that has existed in the area for centuries.
Rainwater originating in the Aravali hills traditionally flowed through these channels before reaching Surajkund, helping prevent flooding, recharge groundwater and sustain downstream water bodies.
Residents argue that the disappearance of these natural pathways could have serious ecological consequences for the wider Surajkund catchment.In separate representations submitted to revenue authorities, villagers claimed that seven govt nalas, established around 1939-40 for carrying rainwater and wastewater, have been encroached upon. “The govt nalas have been encroached upon by private persons, resulting in obstruction of water flow,” UD Gujjar, a resident of Anangpur, said.
Another complaint submitted to the tehsildar describes how blocked drains have affected movement in parts of the village and increased the risk of stagnant water accumulation.A district administration official said, “We received representations from residents regarding alleged encroachments on drainage channels in Anangpur.
The matter will be examined based on revenue records, demarcation reports and other relevant documents.
If any govt drain or natural watercourse is found to have been encroached upon, action will be taken in accordance with the law.
We have sought inputs from the concerned departments and a detailed verification will be carried out before any further steps are taken.”Residents said the impact is already visible during the monsoon. “The blockage of these drainage channels is causing waterlogging and creating problems for residents during the rainy season,” the representation notes.Rahul Bhadana, another resident, said the issue extended beyond individual encroachments. “This concerns the survival of a historic water system that has existed for generations.
The original alignments of the nalas must be demarcated and encroachments removed so that water can flow naturally from the Aravallis to Surajkund,” he said.The issue comes amid growing concerns over the disappearance of natural drainage lines across the Aravali region because of rapid urbanisation and unauthorised development.
Environmentalists have repeatedly warned that blocking natural watercourses can aggravate flooding, reduce groundwater recharge and affect the health of lakes and water bodies that depend on seasonal runoff.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Gurgaon | Silver Rate in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Petrol Price in Gurgaon | Diesel Price in Gurgaon | CNG Price in Gurgaon | LPG Price in GurgaonStay updated with the latest Gurgaon news.
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