Syllabus:GS3/Environment
In News
- 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 issues like 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.
| Ground Water Assessment and Management Initiatives – Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): Includes water conservation and water harvesting structures, enhancing rural water security. – 15th Finance Commission Grants: Provides financial assistance to states for rainwater harvesting and other water conservation activities. – Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Launched in 2019, now in its 5th phase (“Catch the Rain” 2024), focusing on rainwater harvesting and water conservation across rural and urban districts through convergence of various schemes. – Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0: Supports rainwater harvesting via stormwater drains and promotes groundwater recharge through ‘Aquifer Management Plans’. – Atal Bhujal Yojana (2020): Targets water-stressed Gram Panchayats in 80 districts across 7 states, focusing on groundwater management. – Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Aims to expand irrigation coverage and improve water use efficiency through components like Har Khet Ko Pani, Repair & Renovation of water bodies, and Surface Minor Irrigation schemes. – The Ministry of Jal Shakti has set up the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission to act as a facilitator for promotion of improving water use efficiency across various sectors. – Mission Amrit Sarovar (2022): Aims to create or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district for water harvesting and conservation. – National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM): Completed by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for over 25 lakh sq. km, supporting groundwater recharge and conservation plans. – National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, which advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and also highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall. – National Water Awards: Launched in 2018 by the Department of Water Resources to recognize and encourage exceptional contributions towards water conservation and management across India. |
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.
Source :TH
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