Abstract:
The anthropocene is primarily affected by urbanisation. The developing world and its rapidly blossoming urban enclaves have amplified water "wants" inducing a global strain on the freshwater resource. Development of so-called self-sufficient urban townships" have subsequently aggravated water depletion rates. A similar situation is evident in New Town, North 24 Parganas West Bengal, which in spite of lacking a proficient freshwater source was built to create a smart township - home to a rapidly growing gated population plagued by water woes. New Town has witnessed a drastic land use and land cover change, wherein built-up surfaces have engulfed green spaces, water bodies and the old cultivated landscape. The ENDISI and WI indices on satellite imageries have helped to determine this spatio-temporal change. Urbanicity has further affected the land surface temperature (LST), as is evident through MODIS 11B3 data. Analysis of the groundwater levels, its Water Quality Index (WQI) as well as the WQI of the surface water bodies and the potable water supply helped to determine the influence of urban growth and populace. Additionally, New Town‘s ‗newness‘, its present dearth in water infrastructure provision and consequent residential grievances have been analysed to formulate conducive alternatives. Urban growth has swallowed more than 80% of the natural water-bodies. The remaining few are marginally used, left derelict or used for garbage disposal. Built-up surfaces have increased the day-time LST from 210C to 320C between 2001-02 and 2018-19, while groundwater depletion with a decadal fall of 3-4m bgl has also occurred. Its WQI highlights its un-palatability due to over-extraction and lack of recharge. Disparity in water supply is evident, as the siphoned water from the Hooghly river, once treated, becomes expensive thereby limiting its reach to villagers, residing within New Town‘s confines. Unsustainable water use occurs as villagers depend on tube-wells, submersibles at residences, or buy water. This pressurizes distant water reserves. As a solution, this study suggests resident-friendly sustainable alternatives such as Roof-top rainwater harvesting, Grey water recycling, Run-off harvesting, recreation of water bodies associated with Artificial floating Islands(AFIs), and water-efficient faucet structures for its future.
