Depleting Groundwater Levels

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is periodically monitoring the ground water levels throughout the Country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. During the November 2021, about 68.8% of the wells monitored in the country have registered the water level upto 05 metre below ground level (mbgl).

Why is it in news?

In order to assess the long term fluctuation in ground water levels, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2021 have been compared with the decadal mean of November (2011-2020). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 70% of the wells have registered rise in ground water levels whereas about 30% of the wells have registered decline in ground water levels.

Highlights

·       Though Water is a State subject, Central Government has taken a number of important measures for conservation, management of ground water including effective implementation of rain water harvesting in the country.

·       Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019 in 256 water stressed districts in the country in collaboration with States which continued during 2021 also to improve water availability including ground water conditions in the country. Further, the campaign “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA:CTR) was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 22 March 2021.

·       National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall. It also advocates conservation of river, river bodies and infrastructure should be undertaken in a scientifically planned manner through community participation.

·       Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL) 2016 circulated by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs include provisions for Rainwater Harvesting. So far 33 States / UTs have adopted the provisions of rainwater harvesting of MBBL-2016.

·       As per latest assessment, the groundwater in the country is being extracted for various purposes with major extraction share (around 89%) have been reported from Agriculture sector.

·       Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3(3) of the ‘Environment (Protection) Act, 1986’ for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the Country. CGWA grants ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOC) for ground water abstraction in 20 States/UTs through guidelines which are modified from time to time. The latest guidelines in this regard with pan-India applicability have been issued on 24 Sep 2020. Other States/UTs, regulate ground water as per their guidelines/provisions.

·       Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), being implemented in certain water stressed areas of the country, which includes activities like preparation of water security plan at Gram Panchayat level in participatory mode by involving communities to use available groundwater and surface water in an efficient manner in all the sectors including agriculture.

·       Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which is operational from 2015-16. The PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through micro irrigation (drip and sprinkler irrigation system) to reduce the extraction of groundwater for agriculture.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 28^th March, 2022.