Which one of the following is NOT a category of ground water block in Rajasthan?
Less Exploited
Groundwater Block Categories in Rajasthan
Understanding the classification of groundwater blocks is crucial for sustainable water management. In Rajasthan, as in other regions of India, groundwater resources are meticulously assessed and categorized based on their level of development and exploitation. This categorization is vital for planning, regulating, and implementing strategies to ensure the long-term availability of water.
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in collaboration with state government agencies, periodically assesses and categorizes groundwater assessment units (such as blocks, talukas, or watersheds). The primary goal of this classification is to identify areas where groundwater extraction is within sustainable limits and areas where it is critically over-stressed, requiring urgent intervention.
Standard Groundwater Categories
Based on the level of annual groundwater draft compared to the available annual replenishable groundwater resource, the assessment units (blocks) are typically classified into the following categories:
- Safe: These are blocks where the level of groundwater development is less than or equal to 70% of the annual replenishable groundwater resource. Extraction is within sustainable limits.
- Semi-critical: In these blocks, the level of groundwater development ranges between 70% and 90% of the annual replenishable groundwater resource. These areas show signs of stress and require careful monitoring.
- Critical: Blocks categorized as critical have groundwater development levels between 90% and 100% of the annual replenishable resource. These areas are under significant stress, and further development is generally restricted.
- Over-exploited (or Excess Exploited): These are blocks where the annual groundwater draft exceeds 100% of the annual replenishable groundwater resource. This indicates unsustainable extraction, leading to a continuous decline in water levels and potential long-term damage to the aquifer system. The option "Excess Exploited" aligns with "Over-exploited."
Analysis of Options and Identification of Non-Category
Let's examine the provided options in the context of standard groundwater block categories:
| Option | Status as a Category | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Less Exploited | NOT a standard category | This term is not used as an official classification for groundwater blocks in India, including Rajasthan. The categories focus on the degree of stress or exploitation (Safe, Semi-critical, Critical, Over-exploited), not on being "less" exploited. |
| Safe | IS a standard category | As explained above, "Safe" indicates a healthy groundwater balance where extraction is within replenishable limits. |
| Semi critical | IS a standard category | "Semi critical" indicates an area where groundwater resources are approaching their limit and require careful management. |
| Excess Exploited | IS a standard category | This term is synonymous with "Over-exploited," representing areas where groundwater extraction is unsustainable and exceeds replenishment. |
Therefore, among the given choices, "Less Exploited" is the one that is NOT a recognized category of groundwater block in Rajasthan or generally in India's groundwater assessment framework. The categorization system is designed to classify blocks based on the intensity of groundwater usage relative to its recharge, identifying areas that are safe, under stress, or over-stressed.
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