Series of earthquakes can shift Yamuna: Delhi High Court

Following tremors in the Capital, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that a series of earthquakes can shift the Yamuna River and other natural things from one place to another.

"Yamuna river is shifting from its place. Lakes are shifting from its location. Today, there was a minor earthquake. If a series of earthquake will take place then things will shift from one position to another," a bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice AK Chawla said.

The court's observation came while hearing the submission of the Delhi Jal Board counsel who said that alarmingly low water tables in Siddharth Extension in south Delhi might be due to change of channels of Yamuna river from its course.

He said said that they are extracting 10 lakh litres ground water per day by setting up borewells but had failed to find a permanent solution to the problem.

"Something should be done. We have to find the solution of the problem,"the court said.

Mohan Lal Ahuja , a resident of Siddharth Extension, had claimed that the issue of high water table has persisted in the colony since 2012, leading to extensive seepage into the foundations of buildings there which could affect their structural integrity.

According to Ahuja and even DJB, water has been found at a depth of 1.5 metres from the surface, with the petitioner complaining that the rise of ground water level is due to leakage in the pipes used for water supply by the Delhi Jal Board.

Following the submissions, the court reserved its order on the plea.