Groundwater levels entirely depleted in 45 taluks in Karnataka: N S Boseraju

Bengaluru: Minister for Minor Irrigation N S Boseraju informed the Legislative Council on Thursday that groundwater had been entirely depleted in 45 taluks in the state.

Boseraju, who piloted the Karnataka Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) (Amendment) Act, 2025, said that the state had dropped two places, from seventh to ninth on the national groundwater index. In addition to the 45 taluks that have reported 100 per cent groundwater depletion, the condition is critical in 92 taluks, and semi-critical in 33 more, said the minister.

“Measures are being taken in keeping with the Centre’s directions to increase groundwater levels in the state,” said Boseraju. The legislation was passed by the Legislative Council after 15 MLCs from the ruling and opposition parties weighed in with their opinions on the bill.