65 of 181 ponds encroached in Gurugram, natural drainage collapses

Massive waterlogging in Gurugram is not only a result of clogged stormwater drains but also of widespread encroachment of local ponds that once served as natural recharge zones and rainwater tanks. According to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram’s latest geo-tagging survey, 65 of the 181 ponds recorded in civic records have been encroached upon.

The survey, prepared by MCG’s horticulture wing, reveals that while ponds earlier helped the city withstand flash floods, many of them today stand buried under shops, liquor vends, temples, schools and community centres. Structures such as Ramlila stages, cow shelters, parks and even water supply units have further diminished their water-holding capacity. Ironically, most of these encroached ponds are located in 65 areas that civic authorities themselves have flagged as waterlogging-prone. Out of 181 ponds, only 33 still hold water, and even these have shrunk considerably, reducing their capacity.

The encroachment examples are telling. In Sikandarpur Ghosi, a booster station and a liquor shop have come up on pond land, while in Chakkarpur, the local councillor’s office reportedly stands on a pond site. In Badshahpur and Sarai Alaverdi, illegal colonies and housing plots for Harijans have been built over pond areas.

“We will verify the encroachment status of these areas and will follow due legal procedures in vacating the pond lands. The ponds are vital to the natural drainage ecosystem of the city, and we will work on restoring them,” said MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya while speaking to ‘The Tribune’. Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh had also recently highlighted the issue of encroachment of stormwater drains and natural water bodies and urged civic authorities to find workable solutions in cases where eviction may not be immediately possible.

Meanwhile, the Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) have been asked to ensure that no stormwater drain is damaged or encroached upon during Metro development in old Gurugram. Among the key challenges are the Leg-2 drain near Ashok Vihar, an 8-metre-wide GMDA stormdrain that runs along the proposed Metro corridor, and the Leg-1 drain from Old Delhi Road to Rezangla Chowk, which also obstructs the alignment. Both drains are crucial for Gurugram’s drainage system and their protection has been made mandatory during construction.