IIT-KGP publishes study on drought due to depleting groundwater (GW) levels | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    IIT-KGP publishes study on drought due to depleting groundwater (GW) levels

    Posted 13 Jun 2024

    2 min read

    Key findings 

    • Trend: The severity of GW drought increased 22 times during the pre-monsoon season from 1996 to 2016.
      • GW drought is a condition when water tables drop below their normal levels. 
    • Affected Regions: Large parts of North India, including major cities such as Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, and Lucknow. 

    About Groundwater 

    • Global abundance: 30% of the world's freshwater is groundwater. 
    • India's Usage: India is the largest groundwater user in world (more than 25% of global total). 
      • Contribution of GW is nearly 62% in irrigation, 85% in rural water supply and 50% in urban water supply.
    • Major Basins: Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra plains possess 60% of the country's groundwater resources
    • High Utilization States: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu
    • Extraction level: As per Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment 2023 by the CGWB, of the assed GW units:
      • 11% are overexploited (i.e., extraction exceeding annually replenishable groundwater recharge)
      • 3% are critical (i.e., extraction is between 90-100 % of annual extractable resources available).

    Causes of Groundwater Depletion

    • Excessive use of groundwater for agricultural and industrial purposes due to rising population. 
    • Shifting climate patterns affecting water availability. 
    • Unsustainable urbanisation (like encroachment of water bodies, concretisation).
    • Subsidies facilitating low-cost pumping technologies, free electricity, etc.

    Steps Taken:

    • Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL): To improve the management of groundwater resources in 7 states (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh).
    • Jal Shakti Abhiyan-“Catch The Rain”: To promote Rainwater harvesting & water conservation
    • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): The natural resource management component includes water conservation and water harvesting structures.
    • Financial assistance to States:  Financial assistance under the 15th Finance Commission tied grants can be utilized for rainwater harvesting.
    • Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020): Prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). 

     

    • Tags :
    • Groundwater
    • Groundwater Drought
    • Groundwater Depletion

    Articles Sources

    https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/delhi-ncr-among-cities-highly-vulnerable-to-drought
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