Ghaziabad: More than a year after the 10 million litres per day (MLD) Ganga Water Project was announced, Vijay Nagar, which faces a severe water crisis every summer, is finally receiving its supply of Gangajal. The project aims to alleviate the acute water shortage in the area.
Trial Supply Underway
“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. The trial run marks a significant step toward resolving the long-standing water woes.
Groundwater Depletion Crisis
Over the years, the groundwater table around Vijay Nagar has depleted drastically due to overexploitation. In 2017, groundwater was found at 37.02 metres below the soil. By 2023, the water table had fallen to 47.67 metres, and in 2025, it further reduced to 50 metres. The average depletion over six years was 13 metres, the worst in the city, highlighting the urgent need for alternative water sources.
Project Details
The Ganga Water Project involves a 10 km pipeline laid from the Ganga water treatment plant in Pratap Vihar. This pipeline will be connected to six underground water reservoirs in the area, through which water will be supplied to Vijay Nagar. The Rs 16.5 crore project is sponsored by the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) with funds under the 15th Finance Commission.
Mayor Sunita Dayal expressed optimism that 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.
Current Water Production
GMC produces 372 MLD of water, out of which 108 MLD is Ganga water. Till now, Ganga water supply has been limited to areas like Indirapuram, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Siddharth Vihar, and Surya Nagar. With groundwater tables depleting, there is growing 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, emphasizing the quality advantage of the river water.
