Ghaziabad: More than a year after the 10 million litres per day (MLD) Ganga Water Project was announced, Vijay Nagar, which faces severe water crisis every summer, is getting its supply of Gangajal.“Vijay Nagar has 14 wards, out of which water is currently being supplied to nine wards on a trial basis. In 10 days, we hope to start supply in the remaining wards,” said Ghaziabad municipal commissioner Vikramaditya Singh Malik.Over the years, the groundwater table around Vijay Nagar has depleted drastically because of overexploitation. In 2017, groundwater was found 37.02 m below the soil. In 2023, the height of the water table depleted further and fell to 47.67 m below the ground. In 2025, it reduced to 50 m. The average depletion over six years was 13 m, which is the worst in the city.Ganga Water Project was proposed as a 10 km pipeline laid from the Ganga water treatment plant in Pratap Vihar. The pipeline would be connected to six underground water reservoirs in the area, through which water would supplied to Vijay Nagar.The Rs 16.5 crore project will be sponsored by Ghaziabad municipal corporation (GMC) with the funds under the 15th Finance Commission.Mayor Sunita Dayal said the move could finally put an end to the residents’ water woes. “The population of Vijay Nagar is about six lakhs. For many years, the area has been facing water scarcity, especially of potable water. GMC so far was dependent on groundwater supply to cater to the needs but there was a shortfall in that too,” she said.GMC produces 372 MLD of water, out of which 108 MLD is Ganga water. Till now, Ganga water supply is limited to areas like Indirapuram, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Siddharth Vihar and Surya Nagar.With groundwater tables depleting, there is a demand for Ganga water from other parts of the city as well. “Ganga water is fit for potable use. Groundwater in Ghaziabad is brackish,” said Malik.
