Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of M. C. Mehta Vs Union of India & Others dated 11/07/2018 regarding over-exploitation of Delhi ground water. The report submitted by the Central Ground Water Board in May 2018 indicates that there is over-exploitation of ground water in large parts of Delhi and a major part of Delhi is over-exploited and falling in semi-critical category. In such areas, the water levels are showing persistent declining trend during the last two decades.

The Court directs an affidavit to be filed by the Delhi Government on the possible solutions and draws attention to the urgency by quoting the Report of the Niti Aayog on “Composite Water Management Index”, June 2018, in which it is stated “In fact, by 2020, 21 major cities, including Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, are expected to reach zero groundwater levels, affecting access for 100 million people”.