INDIA’S GROUNDWATER GOVERNANCE IS IN BETTER SHAPE

General Studies Paper 1

Context: India, with nearly 18% of the world’s population, occupies about 4(two point four)% of the total geographical area and consumes 4% of total water resources.

• Groundwater is the water present below the earth’s surface and is a vast resource of water.
• Almost 22 percent of water is below the surface land in the form of groundwater.
• World Bank report: India is the largest groundwater user.

Importance of Groundwater:

• Groundwater is the backbone of India’s agriculture and drinking water security in rural and urban areas
• It meets nearly 80% of the country’s drinking water and two-thirds of its irrigation needs.
• Groundwater is pivotal to India’s water security.

Steps taken by the government for sustainable groundwater management:

• Reduction in groundwater extraction to below 70%
• Increasing the network of groundwater observation wells,
• Installing digital water level recorders for real-time monitoring,
• Periodic monitoring of groundwater quality
• Aquifer mapping and data dissemination
• Having better regulation of groundwater extraction by industries
• Promoting participatory groundwater management
• Periodic groundwater resource assessment.
• Creation of Jal Shakti Ministry (a merger of the erstwhile Ministries of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation along with Drinking Water and Sanitation).
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched to transform Jan Shakti into Jal Shakti through asset creation
  • Rainwater harvesting (‘Catch the Rain’ campaign)
  • extensive awareness campaign.

Initiatives for the effective management and regulation of groundwater:

• Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): It looks to inculcate behavioral change made possible by incentivisation.
• National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM): It envisages the mapping of subsurface water bearing geological formations (aquifers) to help gather authentic data and enable informed decision-making.
• There are around 65,025 groundwater monitoring stations in India, which include 7,885 automated stations.
• Samples from fixed locations are obtained to check for the presence of heavy and trace metals.
• A software, ‘India-Groundwater Resource Estimation System (IN-GRES)’, has also been developed.

What does the latest groundwater assessment show?

• There has been a 3% reduction in the number of ‘overexploited’ groundwater units and a 4% increase in the number of ‘safe’ category units as compared to 2017.
• There was an improvement in groundwater conditions in 909 units.
• A reduction in annual extraction (of about 53(nine point five three) billion cubic meters)
• Overall extraction saw a declining trend, of about 25(three point two five)% since 2017.

What does the groundwater assessment indicate?

• It shows that a time-bound and scientific approach is being adopted to monitor precious water resources.
• It indicates a positive inclination in the management of groundwater.

Reasons for success:

• Implementation of comprehensive groundwater guidelines in 2020 for regulation in various sectors
• Making the processes of issuing a no-objection certificate transparent and time-bound using a web-based application.
• The government’s interventions in enabling a positive impact on the overall groundwater scenario. 

Way Forward

• The Theme of UN World Water Day 2022: ‘Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible’ is a reflection of the importance given to the resource across the globe.
• A heli-borne based survey (state-of-the-art technology), has also been used along with traditional exploratory methods for rapid and accurate aquifer mapping.
• Region-wise aquifer management plans are being prepared and shared with States.
• Dynamic groundwater assessments will be done annually now and a groundwater estimation committee formed to revise the assessment methodology.
• The positive change in groundwater: It reflects the spirit of cooperative federalism in managing this precious resource.
  • Around 37(nine point three seven) BCM of additional groundwater potential was created through artificial water conservation structures
• India will need adequate groundwater resources to manage anthropogenic pressures.
• It is important to ensure source sustainability to provide safe drinking water to all rural households by 2024, under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Communities will have to manage their groundwater resources better with the help of various government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
• Find solutions that are essential for sustainable development.
• Steps must be taken to make India a water surplus nation, thus fulfilling the objective of a key United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, of water for all.