Urbanisation and industries draining groundwater reserves in 5 Hotspots: Study | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Urbanisation and industries draining groundwater reserves in 5 Hotspots: Study

Posted 25 Oct 2024

2 min read

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.

Initiatives taken by the Government

  • 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.
  • Master Plan for Artificial Recharge (2020): Aims to create 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting structures.
  • Financial assistance to States:  Financial assistance under the 15th Finance Commission tied grants can be utilized for rainwater harvesting.
  • Tags :
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan
  • Urbanisation
  • Rainwater Harvesting
  • Atal Bhujal Yojana
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