Is India Plumbing the Depths of Groundwater?

 Is India Plumbing the Depths of Groundwater?

Introduction

India is the world’s largest groundwater consumer, drawing ~241 billion m³ annually—about 59% of the available ~449 billion m³ recharge (2023).

This alarming utilization reflects a national trend, but regional hotspots like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu paint a worrisome picture of over‑exploitation and quality degradation.

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 Key Data & Insights

National Overview

Indicator	Value (2023)
Groundwater recharge	449.08 BCM
Groundwater extraction	241.34 BCM
Extraction ratio	~59.2 % of recharge
Assessment units ‘over‑exploited’	736 out of 6,553 (~11.2 %)

Trends: Recharge showed a modest ~2.6% increase since 2022, while extraction edged up. Though pockets improved (+226 assessment units), national stress continues unabated .

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Regional Hotspots

·         Punjab: Extracts ~164 % of annual recharge. In areas like Sangrur, wells deepen ~0.5 m/year—some reaching >55 m deeper in 20 years.

·         Haryana: Extraction at ~136 %; ~47% of villages are “water‑stressed,” with groundwater depths >30 m in 14/22 districts.

·         Rajasthan: Extracts 16.74 BCM vs. 11.54 BCM recharge—~145% extraction rate. ~74% of wells are in “over‑exploited” category.

·         Tamil Nadu: ~89% of wells show declining water levels; extraction predominately for irrigation—~95% .

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Why This Matters for UPSC Aspirants

·         Tragedy of the Commons: Subsidized electricity, procurement policies, and free power create incentives to over-pump. This cycle persists unless economic signals are realigned.

·         Health & Environmental Fallout: Heavy metals (fluoride, arsenic, uranium) have made water in several areas potable only with treatment—a serious public health concern.

·         Agricultural & Fiscal Stress: Farmers dig deeper, use more energy, and accrue debt—impacting rural livelihoods and national food security.

·         Urban Threats: Cities like Delhi–NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Jaipur face aquifer depletion, saline intrusion, dried borewells, and expensive transport of water.

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 Government Interventions

1.      Atal Bhujal Yojana (2020–25)
• ₹6,000 cr World Bank-supported for community-groundwater management in 7 states.

2.      Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019– )
• Targeted district-level water-stressed zones: ~9.8 million recharge structures built (2019–2023).

3.      PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Per Drop More Crop
• Subsidies for micro‑irrigation, drip systems; over 5.2 million hectares area covered.

4.      State-level Crop Diversification Incentives
• Haryana’s ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’: ₹2,800/ha to shift from paddy.
• Punjab’s ‘Pani Bachao, Paisa Kamao’: power-based reward scheme.

5.      Regulatory Reform & Aquifer Mapping
• CGWB mapping ~2.5 million sq·km; introduced rainwater recharge targets.
• New groundwater laws in 21 states + NOCs mandated for large projects.

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 Conclusion & UPSC Edge

Understanding India's groundwater crisis is essential for UPSC Mains & GS Papers. It combines environmental science, economic policy, rural distress, public health, and governance—a rich topic spanning Paper I (Geography/S&T), Paper II (Polity), III (Economy), and IV (Ethics). Use hard data, highlight policy interventions, and propose concrete solutions like:

·         Better tariff mechanisms

·         Expand micro-irrigation

·         Strengthen community institutions

·         Revise procurement norms

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