Groundwater Assessment and Management in India

Groundwater Resources in India: Key Facts and Figures

1. Groundwater Assessment:

   • Conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in collaboration with state governments.
   • Total annual groundwater recharge: 449 billion cubic meters (BCM).
   • Annual extractable groundwater resources: 408 BCM.
   • Total annual groundwater extraction: 247 BCM.
     • Breakdown of extraction:
       • Irrigation: 215 BCM (87%)
       • Domestic use (including drinking water): 28 BCM (11%)
       • Industrial use: 4 BCM (2%)

2. Groundwater Extraction Levels:

   • National average extraction level: 60.63%.
   • States/UTs with higher extraction levels than the national average: Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Karnataka.
   • Districts with extraction levels above the national average: 281 districts.

3. Water Availability:

   • Estimated average annual per capita water availability for 2021: 1,573.19 cubic meters.

4. Groundwater Quality:

   • Monitoring conducted under CGWB's quality monitoring program.
   • Groundwater is generally potable; 99% of monitoring stations report suitable quality for irrigation.
   • Specific issues identified in Bihar: Salinity, fluoride, nitrate contamination in certain localities.
   • Of 584 samples tested in Bihar, contamination levels exceeded permissible limits in:
     • Electrical conductivity: 5 samples
     • Fluoride: 39 samples
     • Nitrate: 78 samples

5. State Responsibilities:

   • States are primarily responsible for groundwater management, quality improvement, and recharge initiatives.
   • Central government supports through scientific studies, technical guidance, policy cooperation, and financial assistance.

6. Key Government Interventions:

   • National Aquifer Mapping and Management Program (NAQUIM):
     • Completed mapping of 2.5 million square kilometers, including 90,567 square kilometers in Bihar.
     • NAQUIM 2.0 focuses on detailed studies in priority areas, covering 76,857 square kilometers across 143 study areas.

7. Innovative Technologies:

   • Development of cement sealing technology for arsenic-free groundwater access.
   • 525 arsenic-free exploratory wells constructed, including 40 wells in Bihar.

8. Water Mission Initiatives:

   • Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Aims to provide quality drinking water to every rural household.
     • 82% of rural households (15.90 crore families) have been connected to tap water, including 1.60 crore families in Bihar.
   • Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Focuses on water conservation and recharge, with over 20 million works completed nationwide, including 575,000 works in Bihar.
   • Mission Amrit Sarovar: Development of water bodies to enhance groundwater recharge; approximately 69,000 sarovars developed, including 2,613 in Bihar.

9. Agricultural Schemes:

   • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Enhances irrigation access and promotes sustainable water-saving practices.
   • Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): Focuses on improving water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation techniques.

Conclusion

The assessment and management of groundwater resources in India involve comprehensive monitoring and innovative strategies to ensure sustainable use and quality improvement. The government's multi-faceted approach includes significant initiatives aimed at enhancing water availability, quality, and agricultural productivity, particularly in water-scarce regions like Bihar.