Najafgarh Jheel & Najafgarh drain is historical water body existing since the times of the Mughals on the south-west periphery of Delhi City (India)Najfafgarh lake, Najafgarh marsh or Najafgarh jheel (Jheel in Hindi means a lake) used to be a vast lake in the South West of Delhi in India near the town of Najafgarh from which it takes its name, it was connected to the river Yamuna by a natural shallow nullah or drain called the Najafgarh nullah. However after the 1960s the Flood Control Department of Delhi kept widening the Najfagarh drain and eventually quickly drained the once huge and ecologically rich Najafgarh lake completely.It was also a major source of ground water recharge for entire Delhi. Over the period of time and due to urbanization, this revulate got converted into a drain due to constant release of untreated waste from the surrounding areas and the industries. The draining of this vast lake affected the entire climate of this important region that is India’s capital territory of Delhi and its neighborhood, it also led to the underground water-table going down leading to water scarcity for this densely populated region.

1. REVIVAL OF
NAJAFGARH JHEEL
(Planning Zone-L)
DELHI(India)
P.S.UTTARWAR, Adviser (Planning)
DELHI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
New Delhi ,India (psuttarwar@gmail.com)

2. LANDUSE
PLAN
OF
ZONE ‘L’
Delhi
Location Plan

3. BACKGROUND
• Najafgarh Jheel & Najafgarh drain is historical water body existing
since the times of the Mughals on the south-west periphery of
Delhi City (India)
• Najfafgarh lake, Najafgarh marsh or Najafgarh jheel (Jheel in Hindi
means a lake) used to be a vast lake in the South West of Delhi in
India near the town of Najafgarh from which it takes its name, it
was connected to the river Yamuna by a natural shallow nullah
or drain called the Najafgarh nullah.
• However after the 1960s the Flood Control Department of Delhi
kept widening the Najfagarh drain and eventually quickly drained
the once huge and ecologically rich Najafgarh lake completely.

4. • Rainwater accumulating in the Najafgarh lake or jheel basin had
been recorded to have occupied more than 300 square kilometers
in many years before its unfortunate draining.
• It was also a major source of ground water recharge for entire
Delhi.
• Over the period of time and due to urbanization, this revulate got
converted into a drain due to constant release of untreated waste
from the surrounding areas and the industries.
• The draining of this vast lake affected the entire climate of this
important region that is India’s capital territory of Delhi and its
neighborhood, it also led to the underground water-table going
down leading to water scarcity for this densely populated region.

5. • The complete draining of the lake caused the great loss of a rich
wetland ecosystem and wildlife habitat and led to the water-table
in the entire region to go down which has in turn led to the area
becoming more and more arid.
• If such natural water body and the drain is revived it can recharge
the ground water of large parts of North, South & West Delhi to
the large extent.

6. PRESENT STATUS
• At present the Najafgarh Jheel and Najafgarh drain is highly
polluted and periphery of the natural Najafgarh Jheel is shrinking
fast.
• Part of this Najafgarh Jheel also falls in Haryana State (Gurgaon).
• If timely efforts are not taken, this natural body will vanish in near
future due to encroachment and growth of villages in the
surrounding area.
• Before the unfortunate complete draining of this lake in the 1960s
by widening of the Najafgarh drain by the Flood control and
irrigation department of Delhi the lake in many years filledup a
depression more than 300 sq.km. in rural Delhi. It had an
extremely rich wetland ecosystem forming a refuge for vast
quantities of water birds and local wildlife.

7. • It is the Indian Capital’s most polluted water body due to direct
inflow of untreated sewage from surrounding populated areas.
• A January 2005 report by the Central Pollution Control Board clubs
this drain with 13 other highly polluted wetlands under category
‘D’ for assessing the water quality of wetlands in wildlife habitats.
• Recognizing the importance of this natural body, the Zonal Plan for
Zone – L has made provision under para 2.14.

8. PROVISIONS OF MPD-2021
“PRESENT WATER AVAILABILITY
The Delhi Jal Board has an installed capacity of 805 MGD against which on an
average 800 to 820 MGD potable water is expected to be produced by
optimization of Water Treatment Plants.
PRESENT WATER DEMAND
The present water demand for potable water in Delhi has been assessed as 990
MGD @ 60 gpcd for all uses. No allowance is made for use of potable water for
parks & lawns/horticulture/agriculture purposes due to water shortage.
PROJECTED WATER DEMAND IN 2021
The Delhi Jal Board anticipates that by the year 2021 about 1380 MGD potable
water@ 60 gpcd for a population of 230 lacs shall be required. However, the DDA
has projected the 2021 water demand as 1840 MGD @ 80 gpcd”.

9. PROVISIONS OF
ZONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2.14 Water bodies and revival of Najafgarh Jheel
“In the zone there about 58 urban villages, out of which 21 fall in the area
designated as the green belt. Almost in all the villages either in the extended Lal
Dora or within the distance of 1.52 km. from the abadi area village pond are
existing. These water bodies have been indicated on the zonal plan and are
proposed to be conserved as per the directions of the court and the policy framed
of developing water bodies and the green area falls around.
Low lying area in the revenue village of Raota, Gumanhera, Jainpur, Shikarpur,
& jhatikara measuring about 356 Ha. (890 acres) adjoining Najafgarh Drain has
potentially for the developing it as a lake which is to be utilized for the
recreational activities as well as water recharging area. The development of the
lake shall be taken up in a comprehensive manner by Govt. of Delhi, MCD, DDA
along with the Haryana Urban Development Authority as part of the area of the
proposed lake is falling in the Haryana Tourist infrastructure would be permitted
on the banks of lake/artificial islands”.

10. Issues Involved
There is a need to formulate the purpose and scope of the detail study,
the following initial parameters are suggested below for such study.
a) Delineation of the boundary of natural water body in view of the
proposed boundary by the ZDP for Zone – L on the basis of contour
study and water basin etc.
b) The catchment area of the Najafgarh Jheel and Najafgarh drain.
c) Some re-charge area around Najafgarh Jheel and Najafgarh drain
and its buffer zone.
d) Periphery control zone to desired land uses. In order to stop the
pollution of natural water body and drain.
e) Study and conservation of flora and funa.
f) Study and conservation of wild life.

11. Newspaper Clipping
regarding Scarcity of
Water in adjoining
Dwarka Zone K-II

12. All plans are co-ordinated with sector plans in an elaborated procedure. Sector planning in
environmental protection and natural resource management is likewise far developed. Here also
the spatial dimension is appropriately considered. The approach of river co-operatives managing
water resources in one watershed is one example. Another example is the spatial planning tool of
the Water Protection Zones which exists over 40 years.
BEST PRACTICES IN GERMANY - Water Protection Zones

13. BEST PRACTICES IN GERMANY - Water Protection Zones

14. This planning tool regulates the use of lands with important functions mainly for
water supply. Protected are groundwater resources near wells serving potable
water supply systems but also surface waters. Within a Water Protection Zone all
activities that eventually may lead to contamination of waters are regulated,
eventually prohibited. The zones are classified according to the protection need
expressed in percolation distance from the source to be protected. In the strictest
protection Zone even access is prohibited (only allowed to the workers of the
waterworks). Another example are sites for industrial development (large scale
industrial development) offered by the State in form of a State Development Plan.
BEST PRACTICES IN GERMANY - Water Protection Zones

15. Google Earth Imagery (Year 2012)

16. Google Earth Imagery (Year 2013)

17. Google Earth Imagery (Year 2014)