“This is mandatory for every one who uses ground water for commercial purposes,” Hari Dhakal, Executive Director of the board, told Republica. “Only those who depend on ground water for household purposes will be spared.”[break]
The board´s fiat comes amid widespread anxieties that the valley´s ground water would soon get depleted. Hydro-geologists have warned the excessive exploitation of ground water, if not regulated on time, will eventually lead to land subsidence.
Over 500 commercial pumps in operation
The board has already carried out an extensive survey to find out the total number of deep boring or shallow pumps.
“We know the exact number and locations of deep boring pumps,” Dhakal said. “If any one fails to obtain license, we will take necessary action as per the existing laws.” The regulation to curb the unregulated practice of extracting ground water was finalized four years ago.
The board, however, had failed to initiate action due to the lack of a concrete report on the number, condition and locations of existing deep boring pumps and shallow tube-wells. “We now have a report,” he said. “This has made us easier to move forward.”
According to the report, around 2,720 billion liters of ground water is stored under the surface in the northern part of the valley, where mainly sand and gravel forms the layers of the land. Hydro-geologists say this part of the valley is relatively less-risky as it gets replenished with rain-water every year unlike in the core and the southern parts.
The core and southern parts of the valley take years to get replenished. In these parts of the Valley, the unplanned and rapid urbanization has made it increasingly difficult for rain-water to percolate through the inner layers, which are essentially made of thick clay. “These parts are at great risk,” says hydro-geologist Nir Shakya.
The amount of ground-water in the core and southern parts of the Valley is only 410 billion liters. The level of ground water in these two parts is fast receding. “Water in these parts will soon dry up,” Shakya said. “We must do something soon to avoid an imminent disaster.”
According to the board´s report, 70 million liters of ground water is roughly being extracted every day in the Valley. In recent years, there has not been any research as to the maximum amount of water that can be extracted from under the ground. A 1992 study by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) had suggested not more than 1.5 million liters of ground water can be extracted every day.
As of now, the board has not determined the amount of ground water that one would be allowed to extract every day and the fees. “At first, we are bringing all the users of ground water under our scanner,” Dhakal said. “Everything else will be determined later on.”
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