GURUGRAM: A five-acre pond restored at Silokhra near South City-1 is showing signs of severe ecological decline, with residents reporting thick algae, stagnant water and foul odour months after the ₹3 crore rejuvenation project was completed. The deterioration has renewed questions over whether urban waterbody restoration in Gurugram is being matched by long-term maintenance, monitoring and ecological management.
A recent site assessment found much of the pond’s surface covered by a dense green layer, while the surrounding area also showed signs of inadequate upkeep. Residents said the condition had worsened over the past two to three months, raising concerns about public safety, water quality and the durability of investments made to revive urban wetlands and ponds. The issue is particularly significant because the Silokhra site was restored following legal intervention. The land, earlier identified in revenue records as a drainage-related waterbody, became the subject of proceedings before the National Green Tribunal after plans for alternative development were challenged. The tribunal subsequently directed the site’s redevelopment as a pond. Residents have alleged that key ecological measures linked to the restoration, including the introduction of fish and installation of aeration systems, remain incomplete. Aeration helps increase dissolved oxygen in water, which can support aquatic life and reduce conditions that encourage excessive algae growth.
The residents’ association, however, has not commissioned independent water-quality testing, meaning the concerns currently rely primarily on visible changes and local observations. A senior official said the pond was designed to receive treated water from a sewage treatment plant, rather than untreated sewage, and that fountains had been installed. Fish stocking is also expected to take place. The authority has said the site will be inspected following complaints. The maintenance question is now central. The pond is reportedly being maintained through a corporate social responsibility arrangement, but residents say pathways around the waterbody have also deteriorated. Uneven walking surfaces can create additional risks for children, older people and other visitors, particularly at a site intended to function as a public recreational space.
Urban planners say the Silokhra experience reflects a wider challenge in city building: restoration is often measured by project completion, while the harder task is maintaining ecological performance over time. Without regular water testing, oxygen management, vegetation control and transparent inspections, restored waterbodies can quickly lose both their environmental value and public trust. For Gurugram, the next test is not another redevelopment announcement but whether the pond can be brought back to stable ecological health. The outcome will offer a practical measure of how the city manages its remaining natural assets as urban expansion continues.
