From Lodhi Garden to Parliament House: How Delhi plans to drain its waterlogging hotspots

Of the 37 locations, the study listed down at least 20 points where artificial recharge of groundwater is feasible.

The study cited that due to strict groundwater regulations in Delhi, very little water is being pumped out, leading to a steady rise in the water table — this was cited as one of the factors behind waterlogging woes of the hotspots. Between 2018 and 2024, as per the study, the Capital received more than the normal annual rainfall (611.8 mm), further recharging the shallow aquifers, a layer of rock or soil that can take in and hold water

According to the study, Lodhi Garden was marked as a high-risk zone for waterlogging. Among different zones, this was marked as having the shallowest water level at roughly 3.53 meters, which means the water is very near the surface, said researchers. For Lodhi Garden, the water is flowing from the South to North, ending up in the area, acting like a collection point.

At the Parliament House area, a unique problem has been flagged. Here, the water moves extremely slowly due to a “flat slope” and attracts water from nearby surrounding areas, according to researchers.

Over a period of one year, the officials mapped the aquifers to identify the different layers of soil and rock underground to see where and how much water is being stored. The officials also aimed to review factors related to long-term groundwater level fluctuation and its flowing pattern, and identify the myriad causes of waterlogging.

Water level data of around 14 wells was studied and the ‘depth to water’ level unit, which is the vertical distance from the ground surface down to the surface of the water in the ground, was noted for 2024. The overall observation revealed that water level is rising at some places by 20 to 40 cm per year.

As per the report, some spots such Mahavir Vanasthali have much deeper water tables where flooding is less of a concern. This location consistently has the deepest water levels in the report, often ranging between 18 and 21 meters below the surface. By comparing 14 different monitoring wells, which belong to the CGWB, the researchers observed that the water is not at the same level across the Capital. It is “piling up” in the eastern and central parts of the NDMC (like Lodhi Garden) while remaining deep in the west.­