Ghaziabad is grappling with an acute water shortage as the city's demand has surged to a peak of 419 million litres per day (MLD) amid an intense heatwave. The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC), which produces 372 MLD—including 108 MLD from the Ganga Canal—is struggling to meet the requirements of its 3.5 lakh consumers.
Massive water losses from aging infrastructure
The civic body has yet to effectively address significant water losses. An official stated that GMC's water pipeline network spans 2,400 km, and leakages in such an extensive system are common. In absolute terms, approximately 130 MLD of water is wasted daily.
Deployment of tankers and technological intervention
To mitigate the crisis, over 85 tankers have been deployed in water-scarce areas such as Mohan Nagar and Vijay Nagar. Additionally, GMC is introducing a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. A pilot project is already operational in Indirapuram and Kavinagar. Officials believe that once fully implemented, SCADA will help plug 90% of water losses.
SCADA is equipped with sensors that detect leakages in pipelines and tubewells, providing alerts in case of machine malfunctions. The system can be monitored centrally, allowing teams to precisely target leak points, whether the pipeline is underground or overground.
Groundwater depletion and failed boring
Of the 372 MLD produced by GMC, more than 80% comes from underground sources. However, the groundwater table has plummeted drastically. According to the groundwater department, the average depth of the water table was 24.89 metres in 2016, but it has fallen to 34.93 metres in 2025—a decline of over 10 metres in nine years. The official added that boring has failed at 16 locations this season alone.
Acute crisis in Vijay Nagar
In Vijay Nagar, the water crisis is particularly severe. A GMC project to supply 10 MLD of Ganga water to the area has not materialised so far.
Pending infrastructure revamp under AMRUT 2.0
Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, a report on the water situation has been submitted to the central government. GMC has requested Rs 2,500 crore to overhaul the city's water infrastructure, but the proposal has been pending for the past two years.
