According to deputy commissioner (DC) Rakesh Gupta, the municipal council is preparing the project plan and work will start soon. ``We won't fill the pond. We will just make it a beautiful place and water harvesting would be the priority,'' said Gupta.

A few months ago, land sharks in the city had started refilling the village pond for construction activity. Though the administration had lodged an FIR against unknown contractors who had unloaded debris near the pond and had even issued instructions seeking removal of the debris, till date the debris has not been removed. Locals also claim that the pond has shrunk as a community centre has come up after filling certain portion of the water body.

In early 2002, a plan was prepared to revive this 30-ft deep pond with an intention to recharge ground water of village Sukhrali and its surrounding areas and also to absorb the run-off water from this locality. The plan also included the beautification of its banks by creating promenades around it and planting select flora to help absorb vehicular pollution.

The revival of this pond gains importance since it falls between the new Gurgaon and old city. The city slopes from DLF side towards the old city and hence this becomes the natural point to harvest rain water.

Revival of village ponds has become all the more important in Gurgaon as ground water table is witnessing steady fall because of increased occupancy of flats. ``While addition of single person in Gurgaon means extraction of more ground water, the much talked about water harvesting plans have gained little momentum. In such a situation, government must ensure no natural pond and low-lying areas are filled for residential, commercial or industrial development,'' said Sudhir Kapoor of DLF City.