Preserving the precious: The Hindu Editorial on ground water use
2 years, 4 months ago

Preserving the precious: The Hindu Editorial on ground water use

The Hindu  

The Ministry of Water Resources recently made public a report that gives a snapshot of India’s groundwater situation. On the surface, there is good news: the total annual groundwater recharge — defined as the groundwater stored — for the entire country is 437.60 billion cubic metres out of which the quantity extracted was 239.16 bcm. A similar assessment in 2020 found that the annual groundwater recharge was 436 bcm and extraction 245 bcm. A decrease in groundwater extraction may indicate better water management; however, the report — called the National Compilation on Dynamic Ground water Resources of India — itself says that the improvement is only “marginal” and may be explained by natural conditions and changes in methodology that the Central Ground Water Board and States, which conduct the survey, adopt. Regions with the most blocks with critical groundwater levels are in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh, where, despite replenishable systems, indiscriminate groundwater withdrawal has depressed the water table.

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History of this topic

Shrinking water reserves: A crisis beneath our feet
4 days, 16 hours ago

Shrinking water reserves: A crisis beneath our feet

Hindustan Times  

Every year, World Water Day that falls on March 22 serves as a stark reminder of the global water crisis, with 220 crore people still lacking access to safe water. While surface water availability often dominates discussions, an equally pressing issue lurks underground — the rapid depletion of groundwater reserves. In Haryana, where agriculture forms the backbone of the economy …

Annual groundwater recharge plummets in Karnataka, but extraction goes up
1 week, 1 day ago

Annual groundwater recharge plummets in Karnataka, but extraction goes up

The Hindu  

Between 2023 and 2024, the annual groundwater recharge in Karnataka fell from 18.93 bcm to 18.74 bcm and annual extractable groundwater resources went down from 17.08 bcm to 16.88 bcm. Kolar at 193.35% and Bengaluru Urban at 186.70% topped in extraction in 2024, said a Central Groundwater Board report. The present annual groundwater extraction is 11.55 bcm or 68.44%, according …

Groundwater, the invisible gift
1 week, 2 days ago

Groundwater, the invisible gift

The Hindu  

Groundwater is a crucial but often overlooked resource that sustains India’s agriculture, industries, and drinking water supply. Conversely, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu face severe water stress due to low rainfall, hard rock aquifers, and slow recharge rates. Threats India’s groundwater is under increasing pressure due to over-extraction, contamination, and climate change, making sustainable management crucial for long-term water security. Artificial …

Reservoir levels dip, water crisis stares North and East
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Reservoir levels dip, water crisis stares North and East

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: With the IMD predicting a harsh summer ahead, North and East India may experience water shortage. Water levels in the reservoirs of these regions are currently lower than that of last year and the average of over the past ten years, according to the latest data released by the Central Water Commission. Experts say that a huge deficit …

Ground water extraction: three Kerala blocks continue in ‘critical’ list
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Ground water extraction: three Kerala blocks continue in ‘critical’ list

The Hindu  

Chittur, Malampuzha blocks in Palakkad district and the Kasaragod block in Kasaragod district continue to languish in the ‘critical’ category in terms of groundwater extraction, according to the latest National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India report. Blocks where extraction exceeds the annual replenished ground water recharge are categorised as ‘over-exploited.’ Kerala has none in this category. Kerala …

Set target to recharge groundwater in 500 villages: Haryana CM
2 months, 1 week ago

Set target to recharge groundwater in 500 villages: Haryana CM

Hindustan Times  

Expressing concern over the falling groundwater level, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini has said that a target of recharging groundwater of 500 villages within the stipulated period should be set. The chief minister said the work of recharging groundwater should be carried out in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and directed to build as many …

Soak it up
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Soak it up

Times of India  

Times of India’s Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. If we are going to use more and more groundwater, we need to put more rainwater underground India got abundant rain in 2024’s monsoon, but saved less water underground. Latest data shows a slight slip from …

‘More groundwater used than recharged’
2 months, 3 weeks ago

‘More groundwater used than recharged’

Hindustan Times  

Delhi extracted more groundwater in 2024 than it recharged, reversing a two-year trend of sustainable usage, according to the latest Central Groundwater Board report released in December 2024. The capital recharged 0.34 billion cubic metres of groundwater during the year but extracted 34,453.58 ham, making the extraction rate 100.77%. Fourteen were deemed “over-exploited,” 13 as “critical,” two as “semi-critical,” and …

Over-Extraction of Groundwater: A Growing Concern in Karnataka
5 months ago

Over-Extraction of Groundwater: A Growing Concern in Karnataka

The Hindu  

University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor N.K. Lokanath has reported over-exploitation of groundwater in 52 taluks in Karnataka, with the stage of groundwater extraction exceeding 100 percent in many areas. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the need for a systematic approach to groundwater management, including the implementation of various management plans recommended by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). The training programme, which will …

Study says north India lost 450 cubic km of groundwater in 2 decades. What does it mean?
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Study says north India lost 450 cubic km of groundwater in 2 decades. What does it mean?

Hindustan Times  

In two decades, northern India has lost around 450 cubic kilometres of groundwater, with the depletion rate only to be much faster due to climate change, according to a new study. The author predicts an 6-20 per cent increase in irrigation demands with the monsoons set to be drier by 10-15 per cent and winters warmer by 1-5 degrees Celsius. …

There is a 15- 30 centimetre rise in groundwater levels: SPPU study
1 year, 6 months ago

There is a 15- 30 centimetre rise in groundwater levels: SPPU study

Hindustan Times  

According to a research report on ‘Impact Assessment of Trench-cum-Recharge Shaft Structures constructed in water-stressed villages across 13 talukas of Pune’ – submitted by the geology department of the Savitribai Phule Pune University to the Pune Zilla Parishad – there is a nearly 15 to 30 centimetres’ rise observed in groundwater levels depending on the locations of these structures and …

Groundwater Use for Farming Peaks in Telangana
1 year, 8 months ago

Groundwater Use for Farming Peaks in Telangana

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: More ground water is being extracted in Telangana than ever before by farmers, belying the claims of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao that the BRS government had increased irrigation potential in the state. According to reports specific to Telangana that were prepared by the Central Ground Water Board, groundwater extraction for agriculture rose from 235 tmc ft in 2019-20 …

Source Sustainability a priority for drinking water supply in rural India
1 year, 9 months ago

Source Sustainability a priority for drinking water supply in rural India

Deccan Chronicle  

India is on a phenomenal trajectory to ensure access to safe drinking water for all its citizens. Ensuring sustainability of groundwater sources Regulatory measures and policy priorities on groundwater recharge- Prioritising source sustainability for drinking water is one of the essential priority. The nation-wide campaign “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” focusing on saving and conserving rainwater with the theme …

Delhi’s water extraction rate better, says report
1 year, 11 months ago

Delhi’s water extraction rate better, says report

Hindustan Times  

The Capital extracted 0.36 billion cubic metres of groundwater in 2021-2022 but recharged 0.37 bcm during the same year, making it an extraction rate of 98.16%, an improvement from 2020-21 when the extraction rate was 101.4%, the Central Ground Water Board’s latest assessment showed. For groundwater readings, safe zones are those where the ratio of recharge to extraction is 70%, …

India’s groundwater governance is in better shape
2 years, 2 months ago

India’s groundwater governance is in better shape

The Hindu  

Data show that India, with nearly 18% of the world’s population, occupies about 2.4% of the total geographical area and consumes 4% of total water resources. Groundwater is the backbone of India’s agriculture and drinking water security in rural and urban areas, meeting nearly 80% of the country’s drinking water and two-thirds of its irrigation needs. The fact that the …

Level of groundwater extraction lowest in 18 years, finds study
2 years, 4 months ago

Level of groundwater extraction lowest in 18 years, finds study

The Hindu  

Groundwater extraction in India saw an 18-year decline, according to an assessment by the Central Ground Water Board made public on Wednesday. The total annual groundwater recharge for the entire country is 437.60 billion cubic metres and annual groundwater extraction for the entire country is 239.16 bcm, according to the 2022 assessment report. By comparison, an assessment in 2020 found …

Karnataka yet to fix deadline for registration of groundwater extraction; sees rise in water levels
2 years, 9 months ago

Karnataka yet to fix deadline for registration of groundwater extraction; sees rise in water levels

The Hindu  

The Central Groundwater Authority’s deadline to register groundwater extraction ended on Thursday. Despite an increasing level of overexploitation of groundwater, the state government still has not taken a call on a deadline for registration of groundwater extraction. According to the report ‘Dynamic Groundwater resources of Karnataka – March 2020’, the groundwater level in the State has significantly increased over the …

Making groundwater visible
2 years, 11 months ago

Making groundwater visible

The Hindu  

The theme of this year’s World Water Day was ‘Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible’. Extraction value According to the Central Ground Water Board, the annual groundwater withdrawal is considered to be safe when the extraction rate is limited to below 70% of the annual replenishable recharge. There is also a need to work out local-level plans covering water resources in …

Groundwater: India is on the right preservation path
3 years ago

Groundwater: India is on the right preservation path

Hindustan Times  

India has 16% of the world’s population, but only 4% of its freshwater resources. This can help prepare, implement, and monitor the efficacy of various management interventions, which, in turn, can help achieve drinking water security, improved irrigation facilities and sustainability in water resources development. The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project on the Godavari in Telangana is the world’s largest and …

Recycling, recharge solutions for groundwater depletion: Arvind Kejriwal
5 years, 8 months ago

Recycling, recharge solutions for groundwater depletion: Arvind Kejriwal

India TV News  

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said recycling and recharge are solutions to the groundwater depletion in the country and said his government and the Centre are working together on a massive groundwater recharge programme for the national capital. Kejriwal, along with Union Jalshakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, laid the foundation stone for India's largest sewage treatment plant in …

Water crisis: Getting the priorities right
5 years, 9 months ago

Water crisis: Getting the priorities right

India Today  

In 2018, the Niti Aayog declared that India was staring at the worst water crisis in its history with 600 million people facing high-to-extreme water stress and about 200,000 people dying every year due to inadequate access to safe water. The Central Ground Water Board data shows water levels fell in 61 per cent of wells in the country between …

Alarming Case of Delhi’s Disappearing Groundwater: After Chennai, Water Crisis Stares Capital in the Face
5 years, 9 months ago

Alarming Case of Delhi’s Disappearing Groundwater: After Chennai, Water Crisis Stares Capital in the Face

News 18  

New Delhi: India is in the grips of an unprecedented water crisis with majority of its western areas reeling under drought-like conditions. Political Blame Game vs Reality Claims of a looming water crisis gathered steam in the national capital’s political circles last week when BJP Rajya Sabha member Vijay Goel staged a protest inside the Delhi Jal Board’s head office …

World Environment Day 2019: 600 million Indian people are facing acute water crisis
5 years, 9 months ago

World Environment Day 2019: 600 million Indian people are facing acute water crisis

Firstpost  

The rainfall in the basins of southern peninsula & central India has been declared “deficient" & “large deficient”. To deal with the water crisis in the country — where 600 million, half the population, face “high-to-extreme” water stress every year — the Narendra Modi government in its second term, on May 31, 2019, has declared taking piped drinking water to …

Rivers are critical for groundwater recharge
6 years ago

Rivers are critical for groundwater recharge

Hindustan Times  

In a report released recently, the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, the University of California, and the India Meteorological Department, Pune, said nearly 50% of the country is currently facing drought with at least 16% falling in the exceptional or extreme category. In a report released recently, the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, University of California, and the India Meteorological …

To discourage misuse, government to levy fee on ground water extraction from June 2019
6 years, 3 months ago

To discourage misuse, government to levy fee on ground water extraction from June 2019

India TV News  

In an attempt to discourage misuse of water by industries and ensure a "more robust ground water regulatory mechanism" in the country, the government will levy a fee on ground water extraction from June next year, an official release said on Thursday. The WCF payable varies with the category of the area, type of industry and the quantum of ground …

Water Scarcity: Water levels ring alarm bell
6 years, 3 months ago

Water Scarcity: Water levels ring alarm bell

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: With water scarcity across the country already threatening to touch alarming proportions, even the Centre has acknowledged that there is a progressive reduction in levels of the precious mineral in terms of per capita availability. According to the official data of ministry of water resources, from 2001, when the average annual per capita availability of water in the …

Groundwater depletion alarming in northwest, central India
6 years, 4 months ago

Groundwater depletion alarming in northwest, central India

The Hindu  

With 230 billion metre cube of groundwater drawn out each year for irrigating agriculture lands in India, many parts of the country are experiencing rapid depletion of groundwater. Significant depletion Based on Central Ground Water Board data of nearly 5,900 wells which have long-term data, a team of researchers led by Vimal Mishra from the Department of Civil Engineering at …

Opinion | India’s neglected groundwater crisis
6 years, 5 months ago

Opinion | India’s neglected groundwater crisis

Live Mint  

India’s over-exploitation of groundwater is contributing to—as stated by NITI Aayog—“the worst water crisis in its history”. In fact, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Water Development Report states that India is the largest extractor of groundwater in the world. An analysis of panel data across 370 districts in India found that a reduction in electricity subsidy …

‘Trillions of litres of water in dams are not reaching farmers’
6 years, 9 months ago

‘Trillions of litres of water in dams are not reaching farmers’

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Mihir Shah, erstwhile member of the Planning Commission and head of several committees on water reforms set up by the Modi government, is candid about the problems facing water management. For some reason, policy makers in India have consistently failed to recognise the key importance of water for the sustainability of India’s growth process and its vital significance …

Hyderabad among 20 more cities will not have any groundwater by 2020
6 years, 9 months ago

Hyderabad among 20 more cities will not have any groundwater by 2020

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Hyderabad has been listed among the 21 cities including Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi that will run out of groundwater by 2020, according to the Composite Groundwater Management report released by Niti Aayog. With the water resource management score in Telangana state hovering over the 50 per cent mark, a medium level score, there needs to be replenishment of groundwater. …

Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai among 21 cities to run out of groundwater by 2020
6 years, 9 months ago

Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai among 21 cities to run out of groundwater by 2020

Firstpost  

India is facing the worst water crisis in its history, and 21 Indian cities will run out of groundwater by 2020. By Bhasker Tripathi New Delhi: India is facing the worst water crisis in its history, and 21 Indian cities will run out of groundwater by 2020, a new report from the NITI Aayog – a government think tank – …

India faces worst water crisis: NITI Aayog
6 years, 9 months ago

India faces worst water crisis: NITI Aayog

The Hindu  

The NITI Aayog on Thursday released the results of a study warning that India is facing its ‘worst’ water crisis in history and that demand for potable water will outstrip supply by 2030 if steps are not taken. 70% contaminated Moreover, critical groundwater resources, which accounted for 40% of India’s water supply, are being depleted at “unsustainable” rates and up …

Supreme Court asking Tamil Nadu to use groundwater wont' work, says expert
7 years, 1 month ago

Supreme Court asking Tamil Nadu to use groundwater wont' work, says expert

Deccan Chronicle  

CHENNAI: The Supreme Court’s suggestion in its recent final verdict in the Cauvery appeals case by the basin states that, given the 20 tmcft of groundwater potential, Tamil Nadu could “safely” use 10 tmcft of groundwater for irrigation in the Cauvery delta areas along with the surface flows in the river, is completely unfeasible, says the well known hydrologist, Dr …

India's looming water crisis: The way forward
7 years, 11 months ago

India's looming water crisis: The way forward

ABP News  

India has seven major rivers. While the country's population, needs and economic activities are growing rapidly, we have failed to keep pace with the per capita availability of water. Given the United Nations’ projection that India's population will see a rise of about 50 per cent, we can imagine a future where the country may have to import water. And, …

The great Indian water crisis: Data drought compounds depleting stock
8 years, 11 months ago

The great Indian water crisis: Data drought compounds depleting stock

Firstpost  

We have no clear idea about how much ground water storage capacity currently exists in the country. Meanwhile, in this piece in The Economic Times on Tuesday, secretary Water Resources Shashi Shekhar has admitted that 85 percent of drinking water in India comes from ground water sources. As per the last assessment of replenishable ground water resources, the total annual …

India set to face water scarcity by 2025, govt tells Parliament | India TV News
9 years, 7 months ago

India set to face water scarcity by 2025, govt tells Parliament | India TV News

India TV News  

New Delhi: India is faced with the alarming prospect of facing water scarcity in 10 years' time, or by 2025, the government has said citing a study by a consulting firm in the water sector. In his reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat on Friday said that consulting firm 'Everything …

A dangerous drill
12 years ago

A dangerous drill

The Hindu  

With the water crisis looming, there is concern over groundwater reserves, one of the most exploited resources in the city. K. Mohammed Najeeb, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, Union Ministry of Water Resources, told The Hindu that the extent of overexploitation of groundwater in Bangalore was nearly 200 per cent. A brochure published by the board in December 2008 …

UN report rings alarm on water scarcity in India
12 years, 1 month ago

UN report rings alarm on water scarcity in India

The Hindu  

India needs to formulate new indices to measure available water resources as the calculations per capita water availability do not include disparity in water allocation and access. The lack of water availability and poor management practices have also manifested in poor sanitation facilities, one among the biggest environmental and social challenges India faces today. The concept of inter-State virtual water …

Groundwater mining: American experience
15 years, 3 months ago

Groundwater mining: American experience

The Hindu  

In September, Virendra Tiwari of the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, reported in Geophysical Research Letters that approximately 54 cubic km of water is being mined annually from a 2.7-million sq.km area extending from Delhi in the west to Bangladesh in the east. Over the past five decades, groundwater has unquestionably played a major role in India’s agricultural production, and …

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