The Delhi Government approved a pilot project for conservation of water by creating small ponds in the Yamuna floodplains from Palla to Wazirabad on Tuesday a move aimed at addressing the “water problem” of the city.

Announcing the Cabinet’s decision, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the move will increase the water table and authorities will pump out water stored in these ponds.

As per the plan, the government will rent farmers’ land located on the Yamuna floodplains and create small ponds in the radius of 20-km from Palla to Wazirabad to conserve water.

The chief minister said the government will only dig ponds, since the Yamuna floodplain is a very big natural reservoir and does not require any construction of any kind.

Besides rainwater, overflow water of Yamuna during the monsoon season will come into these ponds and will be percolated. This will increase groundwater table, Kejriwal said, adding that the expected project cost is around Rs 50 crore.

There is water scarcity in various parts of the country, including Delhi, and the project will not only help authorities deal with current water problem, but also tackle future difficulties, he said.

“We have prepared a scheme in coming days. We will recharge ground water in the floodplains of Yamuna. This is an experimental study for us. Its result will tell us how much it can conserve water,” Kejriwal said.

“We have constituted a five-member committee to prepare modalities of the project. It has been asked to submit its report by Monday,” Kejriwal said.

“I recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on this issue. The Centre has assured us that it will soon take a decision on this,” Kejriwal said.

After the Cabinet decision, the Delhi government will require the concurrence of some Central government agencies, about which the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was informed in the recent meeting with him.

After the meeting with Modi last month, Kejriwal had said said that his government had planned to store Yamuna water during the rainy season.