Delhi's Groundwater Recovery: Satellite Data Reveals Rising Land in Dwarka as Aquifers Replenish

The turnaround follows Delhi's 2016 groundwater policy implementation.

New Delhi's southwest region, particularly Dwarka, is experiencing a remarkable environmental reversal as satellite data reveals the ground is now rising after years of subsidence, indicating a recovery in groundwater levels.

According to a research paper titled 'InSAR Reveals Recovery of Stressed Aquifer Systems in Parts of Delhi, India' published in Water Resources Research journal, scientific analysis of satellite data spanning from October 2014 to October 2023 demonstrates this significant environmental shift.

The collaborative study conducted by scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), IIT Kanpur, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and the University of Miami found that land in Dwarka, previously one of Delhi's most groundwater-stressed areas, began rising around mid-2016.

Researchers documented that the land has uplifted by 5 to 10 centimeters, advancing at a rate of up to 2 cm annually across nearly 4 square kilometers (approximately 988 acres), suggesting the underground aquifer is refilling as water pressure rebuilds.

The analysis indicates an annual groundwater storage gain of 0.002-0.007 cubic kilometers and the onset of pore pressure saturation due to groundwater level recovery in Dwarka.

This recovery, observed between 2016 and 2023, represents roughly 2-7 billion liters of water annually—sufficient to fill hundreds of Olympic-sized swimming pools or meet the yearly water requirements of an entire Delhi neighborhood.

Multiple groundwater monitoring wells in and around Dwarka, including those in Vikas Puri, Janakpuri, and Dabri West, recorded water-level increases of several centimeters each year. Conversely, wells in Chhawla village, Kakrola, and Sagarpur showed either stable levels or slight declines.

Researchers noted a strong correlation between areas showing uplift and wells with improved water levels.

The study reported that groundwater levels across Delhi increased by more than 1.5 meters between 2018 and 2021, despite decreased rainfall during this period, providing compelling evidence of substantial groundwater resource recovery through improved management practices.

This environmental turnaround follows the implementation of Delhi's 2016 groundwater policy, which restricted new borewells, mandated rainwater harvesting, and required large housing projects to incorporate recharge structures—measures that appear to have stabilized the city's previously overdrawn aquifers.

According to the paper, subtle changes were detected elsewhere. A mild uplift of approximately 1 cm was observed west of the Yamuna River, suggesting stabilization in those zones, while areas along Delhi's eastern edge continued to sink by 2 to 3 cm, equivalent to a gradual annual decrease of about 1 to 1.5 percent in ground elevation.

Beyond Delhi's boundaries, trends remain mixed. In Gurugram, which has experienced some of the region's most severe ground subsidence, the land sank by more than 1 meter between 2014 and 2023.

However, the pace of subsidence has significantly decelerated. Between 2014 and 2018, central Gurugram experienced subsidence of approximately 15 cm annually, and the southern part about 6 cm yearly. After 2018, these rates decreased to around 10 cm and 2 cm per year, respectively.

The researchers explained that this subsidence decline in Gurugram indicates the beginning of pore pressure equilibration, resulting from reduced extraction and enhanced recharge activities.

This deceleration means the underground water system is beginning to rebalance after years of overexploitation. As groundwater pumping decreases and more rainwater filters back into the soil, pressure within the aquifer layers equalizes, reducing soil compaction underground and consequently slowing land subsidence.

Unfortunately, conditions in Faridabad remain concerning. The study found land subsidence is accelerating there, with rates doubling from approximately 2 cm annually before 2017 to nearly 4-5 cm yearly since then. Researchers attribute this acceleration to continued groundwater over-extraction for domestic and industrial purposes.

The authors concluded that while Delhi's aquifers show early recovery signs, areas around Gurugram and Faridabad continue to deplete water resources. They recommend sustained satellite monitoring to identify recharge-deficient zones and guide future conservation efforts.