Sinking city

Danger of land subsidence is increasing in NCR

The revelation by a satellite-based study that about 100 square kilometres of land in the National Capital Region, close to Delhi's international airport, is sinking at an alarming pace is a worrisome matter that requires urgent remedial action. Equally disquieting is the fact that the sagging of land, technically called subsidence, is the result of unchecked over-extraction of groundwater, which has already turned scarce in this region. This has put at risk not only the airstrip but also the buildings, roads, drainage systems and other infrastructure in the entire area southwest of the airport, right up to the nearby towns