The study raises serious concerns for five hotspots: Punjab and Haryana (Hotspot I), Uttar Pradesh (Hotspot II), West Bengal (Hotspot III), Chhattisgarh (Hotspot IV) and Kerala (Hotspot V).

• India is the largest groundwater user in world (more than 25% of global total).

Key findings of the Study:

• The northern and northwestern hotspots (I & II): They have suffered a staggering loss of approximately 64.6 billion cubic metres of water over the past two decades.
  • Punjab & Haryana were the most affected areas showing the highest decline in India.
• Uttar Pradesh: Urban expansion has shifted water usage from agriculture to domestic needs.
• Chhattisgarh: Increased irrigation, domestic, and industrial use are causes of reduced groundwater availability.
• West Bengal & Kerala: Domestic and industrial use surged by 24% & 34% respectively.

Solutions for Depleting Groundwater Resources:

• User rights: Instituting a formalized groundwater rights detached from land ownership.
• Granting community rights: Would entail collective responsibility and equal access, mitigating the exploitative tendencies observed under private ownership
• Artificial Groundwater Recharge in India:
  • Direct surface techniques: E.g., Flooding, Basins or percolation tanks, Stream augmentation, etc.
  • Direct sub surface techniques: E.g., Injection wells or recharge wells, Recharge pits and shafts, etc.