India Groundwater : a Valuable but Diminishing Resource

India Groundwater: a Valuable but Diminishing Resource

Recently the Standing Committee on Water Resources has released ‘Ground Water: A Valuable but Diminishing Resource Report’.

The report highlights that India is now the top ground water extracting country in the world. India alone is responsible for 25% of the world’s groundwater extraction.

Ground water meets 67% of India’s irrigation needs and 80% of its drinking water requirements.

Key Findings of report-

  • About 14 percent of India’s 7,089 groundwater assessment units are classified as over-exploited. Another 4 per cent units fall under the category of severe-exploitation.
  • India has registered an overall decrease (15.99%) in terms of the number of over-exploited groundwater assessment units in 2020. In the year 2017, this number was 17.23%.
  • Ground water is being over-exploited due to subsidized electricity and cultivation of water-intensive crops.
  • The National Water Mission does not have enough funds. Also, it has not been given much autonomy in functioning.

Key Recommendations of the Report

  • The Central Government should provide assistance to the States through separate schemes/programmes for ground water management.
  • On the basis of the model bill proposed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, all the states should be motivated to enact laws regarding ground water.
  • Indian Easement Act, 1882 (India Easement Act, 1882) needs to be amended.
  • The Act gives the landowners the right to use groundwater, but also makes provisions for accepting it as a community resource.
  • Community participation in ground water management should be encouraged.

Initiatives taken by the government for ground water management –

  • National Program for Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQIM) has been launched.
  • Atal Ground Water Scheme is being implemented.
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is under implementation.
  • Catch the Rain campaign has been launched.
  • The right crop campaign is being run.

Source – Indian Express

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