Groundwater crisis: Step up action

India is facing its worst groundwater crisis in history with water resources fast depleting and available water getting increasingly contaminated. A recent study found that about 450 cubic kilometres of groundwater was lost in northern India during 2002-2021. Climate change will further accelerate the depletion in the coming years. The study conducted by experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad said decreased rainfall during the monsoons and warming of winters will increase irrigation water demand and reduce groundwater recharge. Already, there is exploitative extraction of groundwater all over the country. According to the India Water Portal, the country uses 25 per cent of all groundwater extracted globally; this is more than the combined consumption of the US and China. The World Bank had once estimated that 60 per cent of the country’s groundwater blocks would be in a critical condition by 2025. The year has already arrived. A UN report has said that some parts of the Indo-Gangetic basin have already passed the groundwater depletion tipping point.

Many schemes such as the Atal Bhujal Yojana were launched to ensure sustainable use of water for drinking, irrigation and other purposes but the problem has only worsened. The overdrawing of water through tube wells in Punjab and Haryana has pushed the water levels far down. Unscientific extraction of water, combined with the vagaries of weather and climate, has posed the danger of desertification in some parts of the country. The government had formulated a multi-decadal action plan (up to 2070) to regulate the use of groundwater and conserve existing resources. Rainwater harvesting plans and projects for recycling of water haven’t made much progress. There is colossal wastage of water at domestic and other levels. The way forward is in ensuring greater awareness about the value of water, of economy in its use, and more effective action at individual, family, community and government levels to conserve water.

A recent Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) report has pointed out that there is a rise in water contamination across the country. It said 440 districts reported excessive nitrate levels in groundwater, up from 359 districts in 2017. Karnataka is among states that have reported the highest contamination. Fluoride and uranium contamination is also high in many states, including Karnataka. Water contamination is known to cause major health problems including Blue Baby Syndrome in infants. Excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides, hazardous waste dumping, landfills and deforestation are all causes of groundwater contamination. Steps should be taken to identify contamination and end it – Karnataka must pay special attention to the problem by initiating targeted mitigation efforts.