As many as 21 water bodies situated in West and Outer Delhi are set to undergo a makeover with the Public Works Department (PWD) planning to revive them with the purpose of utilising them as a natural resource and a solution to control flooding and prevent waterlogging in the Capital.The initiative is part of the Drainage Master Plan as part of which the water bodies have been divided into three major sub-basins: Alipur, Najafgarh and Kanjhawala.The 21 water bodies were identified by the PWD while conducting a thorough investigation of the Najafgarh basin. Of these, 14 water bodies are officially managed by the Delhi Parks and Gardens Society, said officials. The rest of them come under the aegis of different agencies such as Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB), among others.“For the preparation of the Master Plan, all three basins were studied and analysed by the appointed consultants to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR)… During the investigation at the Najafgarh basin, 21 distinct water bodies were identified using meticulous on-ground surveys to ensure accuracy and reliability,” said a senior PWD official.The official said that these water bodies have been found to have the potential to retain water to stop flooding.“The information has been thoroughly validated in collaboration with the Delhi Parks and Gardens Society, focusing on the areas designated as water bodies…,” said the official.The officials said that the specifics for each of these water bodies include essential details such as the ownership status, khasra numbers (land survey numbers), precise site locations, and various other relevant demarcations.Story continues below this adConsidering biodiversity and ecological factors, Bhalswa Lake will be the first such water body to be taken up for development, said officials.Others include Bawana water body, the area near Bawana dumping yard, Mayapuri Lake, Tihar Lake, Dhirpur and Narela Forest.“During the survey, we found that these water bodies have a lot of potential for development, especially in terms of retaining water, creating water-harvesting system where the flood waters can run off to these water bodies, and controlling flooding in the surrounding areas,” said Gyanasis Jena, one of the private consultants hired by the government to prepare the plan.He said that currently, many of these water bodies have either gone dry or have become garbage dump yards.Story continues below this ad“We can rejuvenate these water bodies, increase their capacity and then interlink them with the storm water drains to improve the flood-handling capacity…,” said Jena.“Once the final approval comes, redevelopment of these water bodies will be taken up on an immediate basis,” said another official.At present, Bhalswa Lake faces significant water quality challenges due to the disposal of cow dung from the adjacent Bhalswa Dairy Colony and the accumulation of solid and religious waste. The lake’s primary water sources are monsoonal runoff and treated effluent from nearby sewage treatment plants (STPs).While the area in front of the Golf Course gate has been developed with amenities such as parks, ghats, kiosks, an open gym, toilets, and a boating club, the remaining periphery requires substantial improvement, said officials.Story continues below this adThe lake is equipped with four aeration systems; however, their effectiveness is limited by the prevailing pollution levels, said officials.Under the revival plan, initiatives like desilting, cleaning across the lake to remove accumulated sediments and pollutants, trimming and reinforcement, implementing Random Rubble (RR) stone-pitching to prevent erosion and enhance structural integrity, developing walking and jogging trails, and plantation have been proposed.Besides, construction of boundary walls around the water bodies, increasing aeration system to enhance the oxidation process and improve water quality, creation of dedicated dung disposal areas to prevent contamination of the lake and surrounding environment, nature-based treatment systems, outfall and other initiative like development parks, fishing activities, boating etc, are also on the revival plan, said officials.Further, 27 locations to develop parks and ponds have been identified, said officials.