<div>As some parts of the country are reeling under drought waiting for the monsoon rains, the rising temperatures are forcing people to dig deeper into the earth to find water. More than 90% of the country’s drinking water in rural areas is sourced from the underground aquifers. <div><br /></div><div>Food security is also dependent on ground water extraction as 70% of the irrigation needs are met by the bore wells. India uses highest amount of groundwater next only to the USA.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like forests and wetlands, ground water is also an important ecosystem. However, this is the invisible ecosystem beneath the ground and their contribution to ecosystem services is rarely recognised. According to Nasa, the ground water in India is depleting at alarming rate of four centimetres every year. </div><div><br /></div><div>The precarious condition of destruction and overexploitation of the ground water is confirmed by the recent study by the Directorate of Ground Water in Karnataka. </div><div><br /></div><div>It categorically stated that in all the taluks of the state, the underground water table has depleted, with overexploitation being the main culprit. In the high rainfall coastal and Malnad region, water table has dropped from 400 feet to 600 ft over the decade. In the Deccan plain region, this has plummeted form 600 ft-800 ft to 1,400 ft–1,800 ft. </div><div><br /></div><div>This drastic reduction is not short-term phenomenon led by failure of rains. It is the result of failure of ground water governance and management. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the politics of ground water extraction is one of the major causes that has led to this unmanageable crisis. </div><div><br /></div><div>The vote bank politics is the basis under which the political parties, irrespective of party </div><div><br /></div><div>affiliations, are behind propagating and continuing the power subsidy to the irrigation pump sets. The free electricity provided for irrigation pump sets promotes indiscriminate digging of bore wells. Irrespective of hydrological conditions, numerous bore wells are dug by a single farmer leading to destruction of the underground aquifer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Power subsidy for the small farmer is justifiable, if it is for one bore well that helps provide irrigation. But providing subsidy to big farmers and for any number of bore wells is bound to have negative impact on the available ground water resource.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is the intricate link with the existence of green cover and recharging of the underground water table. Natural forests are being decimated at a faster speed to be replaced by monoculture plantations. Politicians are hell bent on implementing the mega projects that destroy natural forests.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Rs 13,000-crore Yettinahole diversion project in midst of pristine Western Ghats, laying of power lines across the forests in Kodagu and building of mini hydel dams in high forest regions, will eventually destroy the remaining green cover that is the only source for recharging water table in the state. As if this is not enough, our politicians are enticing the people to encroach the forest land assuring that they will be given the title.</div><div><br /></div><div>In order to halt the process of decreasing green cover, the Kasturirangan committee report suggested methods to protect forests from the pressure of sand mining and other mega projects. Unfortunately, in order to satisfy the sand mafia and the vested interests that destroy forests, the state government has rejected this report.</div><div><br /></div><div>Local water bodies like ponds, tanks and rivulets play an important role in recharging ground water. Over the years, these have been systematically encroached upon or they have been built up as real estate property. The river beds are destroyed by unregulated mining mafia supported by the politicians. This is evident from the recent attack on the deputy commissioner of Udupi by the sand mafia.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another political gimmick that has led to over exploitation of underground water is the propagation of horticultural crops like banana, areca, pomegranate and grapes. With the assured subsidy provided to grow these crops, the farmer is lured to dig bore wells. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cropping pattern</div><div><br /></div><div>The change in the cropping pattern from the water saving millet and coarse grains to water guzzling cash crops in the dry regions of the state have had devastating impact on the underground water table.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of judicious use of water, the farmer floods fields with more water. This has resulted in mining the underground water beyond the replenishing capacity of the aquifers. This shows the parochial attitude of our political class towards the issues that affect the common man. This has negative impact on the water security of the state. </div><div><br /></div><div>Where does the ground water come from? It is gradual percolation of the surface water over millions of years that creates an aquifer. This is a precious resource that needs to be harnessed for present and future generations. It is high time that we need to put an end to the petty politics of ground water extraction.</div></div>
<div>As some parts of the country are reeling under drought waiting for the monsoon rains, the rising temperatures are forcing people to dig deeper into the earth to find water. More than 90% of the country’s drinking water in rural areas is sourced from the underground aquifers. <div><br /></div><div>Food security is also dependent on ground water extraction as 70% of the irrigation needs are met by the bore wells. India uses highest amount of groundwater next only to the USA.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like forests and wetlands, ground water is also an important ecosystem. However, this is the invisible ecosystem beneath the ground and their contribution to ecosystem services is rarely recognised. According to Nasa, the ground water in India is depleting at alarming rate of four centimetres every year. </div><div><br /></div><div>The precarious condition of destruction and overexploitation of the ground water is confirmed by the recent study by the Directorate of Ground Water in Karnataka. </div><div><br /></div><div>It categorically stated that in all the taluks of the state, the underground water table has depleted, with overexploitation being the main culprit. In the high rainfall coastal and Malnad region, water table has dropped from 400 feet to 600 ft over the decade. In the Deccan plain region, this has plummeted form 600 ft-800 ft to 1,400 ft–1,800 ft. </div><div><br /></div><div>This drastic reduction is not short-term phenomenon led by failure of rains. It is the result of failure of ground water governance and management. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the politics of ground water extraction is one of the major causes that has led to this unmanageable crisis. </div><div><br /></div><div>The vote bank politics is the basis under which the political parties, irrespective of party </div><div><br /></div><div>affiliations, are behind propagating and continuing the power subsidy to the irrigation pump sets. The free electricity provided for irrigation pump sets promotes indiscriminate digging of bore wells. Irrespective of hydrological conditions, numerous bore wells are dug by a single farmer leading to destruction of the underground aquifer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Power subsidy for the small farmer is justifiable, if it is for one bore well that helps provide irrigation. But providing subsidy to big farmers and for any number of bore wells is bound to have negative impact on the available ground water resource.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is the intricate link with the existence of green cover and recharging of the underground water table. Natural forests are being decimated at a faster speed to be replaced by monoculture plantations. Politicians are hell bent on implementing the mega projects that destroy natural forests.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Rs 13,000-crore Yettinahole diversion project in midst of pristine Western Ghats, laying of power lines across the forests in Kodagu and building of mini hydel dams in high forest regions, will eventually destroy the remaining green cover that is the only source for recharging water table in the state. As if this is not enough, our politicians are enticing the people to encroach the forest land assuring that they will be given the title.</div><div><br /></div><div>In order to halt the process of decreasing green cover, the Kasturirangan committee report suggested methods to protect forests from the pressure of sand mining and other mega projects. Unfortunately, in order to satisfy the sand mafia and the vested interests that destroy forests, the state government has rejected this report.</div><div><br /></div><div>Local water bodies like ponds, tanks and rivulets play an important role in recharging ground water. Over the years, these have been systematically encroached upon or they have been built up as real estate property. The river beds are destroyed by unregulated mining mafia supported by the politicians. This is evident from the recent attack on the deputy commissioner of Udupi by the sand mafia.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another political gimmick that has led to over exploitation of underground water is the propagation of horticultural crops like banana, areca, pomegranate and grapes. With the assured subsidy provided to grow these crops, the farmer is lured to dig bore wells. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cropping pattern</div><div><br /></div><div>The change in the cropping pattern from the water saving millet and coarse grains to water guzzling cash crops in the dry regions of the state have had devastating impact on the underground water table.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of judicious use of water, the farmer floods fields with more water. This has resulted in mining the underground water beyond the replenishing capacity of the aquifers. This shows the parochial attitude of our political class towards the issues that affect the common man. This has negative impact on the water security of the state. </div><div><br /></div><div>Where does the ground water come from? It is gradual percolation of the surface water over millions of years that creates an aquifer. This is a precious resource that needs to be harnessed for present and future generations. It is high time that we need to put an end to the petty politics of ground water extraction.</div></div>
