Contamination of Ground Water in India

General Studies Paper-3

Context: India relies heavily on groundwater for drinking and irrigation, but rapid, unregulated extraction has led to widespread contamination.

India’s groundwater crisis

• India depends on groundwater for about 85% of its rural drinking water needs and around 60% of irrigation water.
• Despite an increase in rainfall over the past decades, groundwater replenishment is insufficient due to excessive withdrawals and encroachments on natural recharge zones.
• Groundwater levels in many parts of India have depleted drastically, with water tables in northwestern states (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh) dropping over 40 meters deep, making extraction expensive and unsustainable.
• According to recent data, about 60% of India’s districts face critical groundwater depletion or contamination or both, threatening the livelihoods of millions.
• Also, Groundwater is facing a hidden crisis of pollution.
  • Contaminants originate from chemical fertilizers, industrial waste, sewage leaks, and natural sources worsened by human activity. 

Key structural issues

• Institutional fragmentation: India’s groundwater crisis is driven by a fragmented regulatory system and poor coordination.
  • Agencies such as the CGWB, the CPCB, the SPCBs, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti operate in silos, often duplicating efforts and lacking coordination for integrated, science-based interventions.
• Weak legal enforcement: The Water Act exists, its enforcement — especially on groundwater discharge — is inadequate.
  • Regulatory loopholes and lax compliance embolden polluters.
• Lack of real-time, publicly-accessible data: Monitoring is infrequent and poorly disseminated.
  • Without early warning systems or integration with public health surveillance, contamination often goes undetected until after serious health outcomes emerge.
• Over-extraction: Excessive pumping lowers water tables and concentrates pollutants, making aquifers more vulnerable to geogenic toxins and salinity intrusion.

Impacts 

• The 2024 Central Ground Water Board report highlights pollution with nitrates, fluoride, arsenic, uranium, iron, and heavy metals across many states, causing serious health issueslike fluorosis, cancers, kidney failure, and developmental disorders.
• Incidents of groundwater poisoning, such as in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, reveal institutional neglect.
• This escalating groundwater crisis poses a major public health threat affecting millions, especially in rural areas.

Suggestions 

• India’s groundwater crisis has shifted from scarcity to safety, with invisible and irreversible pollution posing a serious threat.
• Therefore India’s groundwater crisis calls for a bold, coordinated, and multi-dimensional strategy  and these are :
  • Comprehensive Policy Reforms: Establish stringent extraction limits in over-exploited zones and incentivise water-efficient agricultural practices.
  • Integrated Monitoring Systems: Leverage real-time data analytics to track contamination trends and predict future risks.
  • Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate communities about contamination risks and promote the adoption of low-cost treatment technologies.
  • Targeted Remediation: Deploy region-specific solutions such as rainwater harvesting in salinity-prone areas and phosphate reduction strategies to curb fluoride and nitrate contamination.