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.
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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.
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- 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.
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- 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
6 Sep 2023
