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Posted 13 Jun 2024

2 min read

Key findings 

  • Trend: The severity of GW drought increased 22 times during the pre-monsoon season from 1996 to 2016.
    • GW drought is a condition when water tables drop below their normal levels. 
  • Affected Regions: Large parts of North India, including major cities such as Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, and Lucknow. 

About Groundwater 

  • Global abundance: 30% of the world's freshwater is groundwater. 
  • India's Usage: India is the largest groundwater user in world (more than 25% of global total). 
    • Contribution of GW is nearly 62% in irrigation, 85% in rural water supply and 50% in urban water supply.
  • Major Basins: Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra plains possess 60% of the country's groundwater resources
  • High Utilization States: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu
  • Extraction level: As per Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment 2023 by the CGWB, of the assed GW units:
    • 11% are overexploited (i.e., extraction exceeding annually replenishable groundwater recharge)
    • 3% are critical (i.e., extraction is between 90-100 % of annual extractable resources available).

Causes of Groundwater Depletion

  • Excessive use of groundwater for agricultural and industrial purposes due to rising population. 
  • Shifting climate patterns affecting water availability. 
  • Unsustainable urbanisation (like encroachment of water bodies, concretisation).
  • Subsidies facilitating low-cost pumping technologies, free electricity, etc.

Steps Taken:

  • Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL): To improve the management of groundwater resources in 7 states (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh).
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan-Catch The Rain”: To promote Rainwater harvesting & water conservation
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): The natural resource management component includes water conservation and water harvesting structures.
  • Financial assistance to States:  Financial assistance under the 15th Finance Commission tied grants can be utilized for rainwater harvesting.
  • Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020): Prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). 

 

  • Tags :
  • Groundwater
  • Groundwater Drought
  • Groundwater Depletion
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