India Groundwater: A valuable but diminishing resource

Groundwater in India is a critical resource. However, an increasing number of aquifers are reaching unsustainable levels of exploitation. If current trends continue, in 20 years about 60% of all India’s aquifers will be in a critical condition says a World Bank report, Deep Wells and Prudence. This will have serious implications for the sustainability of agriculture, long-term food security, livelihoods, and economic growth. It is estimated that over a quarter of the country’s harvest will be at risk. There is an urgent need to change the status quo. Read more: http://j.mp/sbsJYX Download the report: http://j.mp/spDyXA

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• Policy
• Groundwater Recharge

2 Comments

1. Every year with a new study we know that all the natural resources have been depleting at much faster rate. Still no steps/measures to stop/control the same (not only India, in almost all parts of the world); the reason we all know is because of industrialization, urbanization and population growth, etc, etc. Who has to be blamed for this?

   We are talking about sustainable development from past 3 decades or so, but still......? We are saving money/property for the children, why can't we try to give a good environment i.e., pollution free and save some natural resource for them.

   Say, from today onwards, I will save water- by minimise the use, by making water harvesting structure at home/office, stopping wastage of water and other natural resources.

   So some initiative has to be taken to save and preserve/conserve our environment, I will be the first change and I will start from today and start from my place (i.e., home sweet home).

   Can we do it!

2. Ground water in India is a critical resource as number of aquifers are reaching unsustainable level of exploitation. This position is more worse in the mega and metro cities through out the country .With current phase of development and growth of population there is a continuous declining of water table and the various layers of aquifers are being drained out There is tremendous fall of water table during the last one decade .If this trend continues than in next two decades more than 60 % aquifers will be drained out . At this stage of situation we will have to develop ground water on basin wise with proper restriction on exploitation .Besides this indirect affect on our agriculture production leading to food security , livelihood and economic growth . Ground water pollution is also a big challenge.Ground water is contaminated with increasing % of Arsenic,nitrate ,fluorine and uranium etc .These are are poisonous elements causing cancer ,skin disease ,problem of bones and teeth etc .In order to preserve our this natural resource it is high time when we should go for rain water harvesting and to save every drop of water and it is an urgent need to change the status .Similar conditions are exiting in other parts of the world viz state of California ,part of Africa ,Israel etc . In order to change the status of water ,we will have to divide this natural resource in two parts one for personal use and one agriculture and other use .For this we will have to go for recycling of water which may be called as grey water which is to be used for agriculture and for other uses etc .In mega and metro cities this must be implemented as soon as possible .