A bunch of writ petitions filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court raising the issue regarding preservation of groundwater level in the area covered under the municipal limits of Gurugram, Haryana, which also had DLF City as one of the constructing builders were heard by a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor.
At the initial stage, the Court had noticed that the environmental concerns with regard to depletion of groundwater level have not been adequately addressed and several affidavits were filed during the pendency of the petitions. To verify the latest position of the groundwater level in Gurugram, the Court called upon Central Ground Water Authority, Ministry of Water Resources, New Delhi (respondent 7) to submit an affidavit for the same.
The material on record showed that Gurugram had been facing a persistent water crisis due to the non-availability of potable water. It was noted that the indiscriminate use of borewells had resulted in a continuous depletion of groundwater levels over several decades, and that the existing natural water bodies have substantially diminished, while the channels that sustained the water bodies remained largely blocked.
It was also noted that Gurugram was facing severe waterlogging during monsoons, but the accumulated rainwater was not being effectively utilized for replenishing the depleting groundwater levels. Further, the Court also noted an issue regarding proper utilization of treated water with effective utilization of sewage treatment plants. The Court said that unless appropriate and effective measures are pursued aggressively, the situation would remain grim as continued urbanization and population growth were inevitable, given Gurugram’s proximity to the National Capital.
All parties agreed to submit their written suggestions regarding the remedial measures to be undertaken in the present matter to the Bench Secretary on 28-09-2026. The State counsel was directed to obtain specific instructions from the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram as well as Heads of all departments concerned by the next date of listing i.e. 01-10-2026.
The Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, the Heads of departments concerned, the Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation, Gurugram, the Officers-in-Charge of Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran, and the Gurugram metropolitan Development Authority were directed to remain present through video conferencing on the next date.
