Depletion of Groundwater (UPSC Current Affairs)

Relevance: GS2 GS3 - Conservation, Water Resources, Irrigation, Government Policies & Interventions

Click here for Daily Current Affairs

Why in the news?

• According to a recent analysis of water level data conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), around 33% of the wells surveyed had experienced a fall in groundwater levels between 0 and 2 metres. Furthermore, in a few parts of metro cities such as New Delhi, Indore, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Madurai, Vijayawada, Kanpur, and Lucknow, a fall of more than 4.0 m has been observed. Through a network of monitoring wells, the CGWB monitors groundwater levels on a regional scale throughout the country, including metro cities.

How much is Groundwater extraction in India?

• According to the 2018 UNESCO World Water Development Report, India is the world's largest extractor of groundwater.
• Groundwater's contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP)is never measured.
• According to the CGWB, several sections of India are facing rapid groundwater depletion because of the 230 billion metre cube of groundwater pumped out each year for irrigating agricultural lands.
• India's overall groundwater depletion is estimated to be between 122 and 199 billion cubic metres.

What are the reasons for the extraction of groundwater?

• Green Revolution: The Green Revolution allowed water-intensive crops to be cultivated in drought-prone/water-scarce areas, resulting in groundwater overuse.
• Pumping water from the ground on a regular basis without waiting for it to recharge causes rapid depletion.
• Furthermore, subsidies for electricity and a high MSP (Minimum Support Price) for water-intensive crops.
• Water contamination, such as that caused by landfills, septic tanks, leaking underground gas tanks, and excessive fertiliser and pesticide use, results in the damage and depletion of groundwater supplies.
• Inadequate Groundwater Control: Inadequate groundwater regulation fosters the exhaustion of groundwater resources with no penalties.
• In India, no permits are required for the construction of irrigation wells, and no records of abandoned wells are maintained.
• Every day, hundreds of wells are dug in India, and even more are abandoned once they run dry.
• Water is a state subject, hence water management programmes such as water conservation and water harvesting, as well as ensuring adequate drinkable water available to everyone in the country, are essentially the duty of the states.
• The Central Government, on the other hand, has taken key steps, such as funding numerous projects.

What are the steps taken by the central Government to prevent Groundwater Depletion?

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): In 2019, the Indian government announced the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), which aims to improve water availability, particularly groundwater conditions, in 256 water-stressed districts across the country.
• Master Plan for Artificial Groundwater Recharge - 2020: The Master Plan - 2020 was developed by the CGWB in consultation with the state governments.
• It plans to build 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge systems around the country to capture 185 billion cubic metres of water (BCM).
• In addition, the government has started a campaign called "Catch the Rain" to encourage rainwater harvesting.
• The National Water Policy (2012) promotes rainwater harvesting and water conservation, as well as the need to augment water availability by direct use of rainfall.
• It also advises that river, river bodies, and infrastructure conservation is done in a scientifically planned manner with community involvement.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY): In over-exploited and water-stressed areas, the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) scheme (co-funded by World Bank money) for sustainable groundwater management with community engagement is being implemented.
• The Central Government supports water harvesting and conservation projects largely through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development Component.
• The CGWB has taken on the Aquifer Mapping and Management Program. The program's goal is to define aquifer disposition and characterisation in order to develop aquifer/area-specific groundwater management strategies with community input.
• The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) focuses on basic urban infrastructure development in AMRUT cities, including water supply, sewerage and septage management, stormwater drainage, green spaces and parks, and non-motorized urban transportation.
• Various State Government Initiatives: A number of states have made significant contributions to water conservation/harvesting for sustainable water resource management. For example,
• Rajasthan's Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan
• Maharashtra's 'Jalyukta Shivar'
• Gujarat's 'Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan'
• Telangana's 'Mission Kakatiya'
• Andhra Pradesh's 'Neeru Chettu'
• Bihar's Jal Jeevan Hariyali
• Haryana's 'Jal Hi Jeevan'

Way forward

• Pani Panchayats: India's Prime Minister has taken a step in the right direction by emphasising the need for water conservation and the necessity to take suitable measures to make water conservation a mass movement.
  • Decentralizing water conservation to the rural level or establishing Pani Panchayats can be quite useful in this scenario.
• Illegal encroachment and diversion of water bodies and drainage systems shall not be permitted, and where they have occurred, they must be repaired to the greatest extent possible and adequately maintained.
  • Furthermore, the charges received for extraction should be used to restore groundwater.
• Micro-irrigation techniques such as sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation should be encouraged.
  • Water is run through pipes (with holes) that are either buried or slightly above the ground next to the crops in drip irrigation. Water drips slowly onto the roots and stems of the crop.
  • In contrast to spray irrigation, relatively little water is wasted on evaporation, and the water may be directed only to the plants that want it, reducing water waste.
• Artificial Groundwater Recharge: This is the process of spreading or impounding water over land to boost infiltration via the soil and percolation to the aquifer, or injecting water directly into the aquifer through wells.
• Installing groundwater management plants at the local level will assist people in determining the availability of groundwater in their area and ensuring that it is used properly.

Some Important FAQs