Excessive extraction of groundwater in Gurugram’s Cyber City area has led to severe degradation of the land surface, rendering even rainwater harvesting systems ineffective. The situation has worsened to the extent that 84 rainwater harvesting systems installed under the Gurugram Municipal Corporation have become non-functional due to a sharp decline in groundwater levels.

Already classified as a ‘dark zone’ because of critically low groundwater availability, Gurugram continues to witness further depletion instead of recovery. Taking note of the gravity of the situation, the Municipal Corporation has launched an initiative to revive the defunct rainwater harvesting systems.

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As part of the plan, new and deeper borewells will be drilled so that rainwater can reach the lowered groundwater table and contribute effectively to recharge. Officials stated that the existing systems have failed primarily because water is no longer reaching the required depth underground.

In addition to restoring the non-functional units, the Municipal Corporation will repair and technically upgrade all 404 rainwater harvesting systems in the city. Systems found to have structural flaws will be completely redesigned and rectified. Officials have assured that the exercise will not be carried out as a routine formality but will be aimed at delivering visible and lasting results.

Experts attribute the worsening groundwater situation to rapid urbanisation, unchecked concretisation, and a steady decline in green cover. With open spaces shrinking and continuous construction underway, rainwater is flowing into drains and roads instead of percolating into the soil. This has nearly halted the natural groundwater recharge process.

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Officials have warned that unless corrective measures are implemented effectively, Gurugram could face a more acute water crisis in the coming years. To strengthen recharge efforts, the Municipal Corporation has also decided to install modular rainwater harvesting systems, with an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore, as part of its broader groundwater conservation strategy.