Management of the groundwater a precious resource

(MainsGS3:Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.)

Context:

• The theme of UN World Water Day 2022 was ‘Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible’ is a reflection of the importance given to the resource across the globe.
•  A World Bank report says that India is the largest groundwater user and having a rapidly growing economy and population are straining the country’s groundwater resources.

Backbone of India’s agriculture:

• Data show that India, with nearly 18% of the world’s population, occupies about 2.4% of the total geographical area and consumes 4% of total water resources.
• Groundwater is the backbone of India’s agriculture and drinking water security in rural and urban areas, meeting nearly 80% of the country’s drinking water and two-thirds of its irrigation needs.
• The 2022 assessment suggests that groundwater extraction is the lowest since 2004, when it was 231 bcm and a decrease in groundwater extraction may indicate better water management.
• However, the report  called the National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India itself says that the improvement is only “marginal”.

Sustainable groundwater management:

• The central government is working to achieve the goal of sustainable groundwater management in collaboration with States and Union Territories.
• In this process, certain important deliverables have been identified that include a reduction in groundwater extraction to below 70%, increasing the network of groundwater observation wells, installing digital water level recorders for real-time monitoring and periodic monitoring of groundwater quality.
• Further aquifer mapping and data dissemination with having better regulation of groundwater extraction by industries and promoting participatory groundwater management and even periodic groundwater resource assessment.

Jan Shakti into Jal Shakti:

• In May 2019, a much-needed step of policy reform was done under the leadership of the Prime Minister with the creation of Jal Shakti Ministry (a merger of the erstwhile Ministries of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation along with Drinking Water and Sanitation).
• This was to give impetus to the management of water resources with special focus on demand and supply management.
• Realising the importance of community participation, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched subsequently to transform Jan Shakti into Jal Shakti through asset creation, rainwater harvesting (‘Catch the Rain’ campaign) and extensive awareness campaign.
• Initiatives have also been taken for the effective management and regulation of groundwater, examples being the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) and the National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM).

Marginal improvement:

• According to the latest assessment, there has been a 3% reduction in the number of ‘overexploited’ groundwater units and a 4% increase in the number of ‘safe’ category units as compared to 2017.
• Some of this success may be attributed to implementation of comprehensive groundwater guidelines in 2020 for regulation in various sectors and making the processes of issuing a no-objection certificate transparent and time-bound using a web-based application.
• The government’s interventions in enabling a positive impact on the overall groundwater scenario in India, reflect the spirit of cooperative federalism in managing this precious resource.
• That around 9.37 BCM of additional groundwater potential was created through artificial water conservation structures is an example of this impact.

Conclusion:

• As one of the fastest growing economies, India will need adequate groundwater resources to manage anthropogenic pressures.
• It is important to ensure source sustainability to provide safe drinking water to all rural households by 2024, under the Jal Jeevan Mission.