India Will Be Losing Groundwater Three Times Faster in 2041-2080

September 6, 2023

GS Paper I Geography

Context:

According to a recent research published in Science Advances, groundwater depletion in India is projected to triple between 2041 and 2080 due to the effects of global warming.

Present Groundwater Status in India:

India, with 18% of the world’s population, consumes 4% of global water resources.
Largest groundwater user globally.
Groundwater contributes to 62% of agriculture, 85% of rural water supply, and 50% of urban water supply.
Over Extraction could endanger 60% of India’s aquifers and threaten 80% of drinking water in the next two decades.

More about the News:

Groundwater Level Decline: Estimated groundwater level decline from 2041 to 2080 is 3.26 times the current rate.Variation exists, ranging from 1.62 to 4.45 times depending on climate models and RCP scenarios.
Farmers’ Response to Climate Change: Farmers rely more on groundwater as temperatures rise, intensifying resource depletion.
- Over time, this reduces long-term irrigation capacity.
Expanding Overexploitation of Aquifers: Overexploitation may extend to southwest, south, and central India by 2050, posing challenges for hard rock aquifers.
- Currently, overexploitation is concentrated in the northwest and south.

Challenges in Indian Groundwater Extraction:

Urban Growth Escalates Demand: Rapid urbanisation strains water resources and waste management.

The Central government has identified certain deliverables to achieve the goal of sustainable groundwater management:

A reduction in groundwater extraction to below 70%.
Installing digital water level recorders for real-time monitoring.
Periodic monitoring of groundwater quality.
Aquifer mapping and data dissemination.
Promote participatory groundwater management.

Over-Exploitation Impacts: Excessive extraction leads to land subsidence, saline intrusion, and contamination.
Urbanisation Alters Cycles: Urban expansion disrupts groundwater cycles, affecting levels, yields, and quality.
Urban Pollution Concerns: Infiltration from roads and industries heightens urban groundwater pollution risks.
Rainwater Harvesting Lag: Despite heavy rainfall, inadequate rainwater harvesting worsens water scarcity.

Steps to Rationalise Groundwater Use and Water Governance in India:

Legislative Actions:

Model Groundwater (Sustainable Management) Bill, 2017: Addresses key concerns, emphasising environmental protection, decentralisation, and local committee formation for groundwater management.

Key Initiatives:

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): Encourages behavioural change through incentives.
National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM): Aims to map aquifers for data-driven decision-making.
Jal Jeevan Mission: Strives to provide rural households with safe drinking water by 2024.
India-Groundwater Resource Estimation System (IN-GRES): Enables annual dynamic groundwater assessments.
Community Engagement: The Jal Shakti Abhiyan fosters community participation through asset creation, rainwater harvesting, and awareness campaigns.

Integration of Ministries: The Ministry of Jal Shakti’s formation consolidated water-related ministries, enhancing water resource management with a focus on supply and demand.
Indian Easement Act, 1882 grants landowners unlimited groundwater withdrawal rights. Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) formed in 1970 to develop groundwater policies.

Other Action:

Adopt Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM): Embrace the IWRM framework to coordinate development and management of water and land resources.
Water-Sensitive Urban Planning: Implement water-sensitive urban design and planning to manage groundwater, surface water, and rainwater effectively.
Blue-Green Infrastructure Approach: Utilise green and blue spaces like parks, wetlands, and rivers to rejuvenate water bodies and aquifers.
Agricultural Policy Review: Align cropping patterns with local agro-ecology.

News Source: DTE