Depletion in Groundwater Levels

Source: The post is based on the article “Depletion in Groundwater Levels” published in PIB on 31st July 2022.

What is the News?

According to the analysis done by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Groundwater levels in some parts of the country are declining.

What is the status of Groundwater levels in India?

CGWB has found that between 2011 and 2020, about 70% of wells have registered a rise in water level whereas about 30% of the wells monitored have registered a decline in groundwater level mostly in the range of 0–2 m.

Reasons for Groundwater Depletion: Continuous withdrawal is necessitated by increased demand for freshwater for various uses, unpredictability in rainfall, increased population, industrialization & urbanization etc.

Note: Water being a State subject, sustainable groundwater management including initiating suitable action for effective rainwater harvesting, increasing water use efficiency etc falls under the state’s mandate.

What are the steps taken to tackle the depletion of Groundwater in India?

Atal Bhujal Yojana

Mission Amrit Sarovar

Guidelines for groundwater regulation: The guidelines advise States for reviewing the free/subsidized electricity policy to farmers (wherever applicable), bringing suitable water pricing policy and work towards crop rotation/diversification/other initiatives to reduce over-dependence on groundwater.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan(JSA)

National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme(NAQUIM)

States Initiatives: A number of states have done notable work in the field of water conservation /harvesting such as 1) Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan in Rajasthan, 2) Jalyukt Shiba in Maharashtra, 3) Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan in Gujarat, 4) Mission Kakatiya in Telangana, 5) Neeru Chettu in Andhra Pradesh, 6) Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, 7) Jal Hi Jeevan in Haryana and 8) Kudimaramath scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.