Why Groundwater Conservation Is No Longer Optional But Imperative For India | Explained – News18

Last Updated:December 25, 2024, 08:52 IST

Around 78% of wells in Punjab are overexploited and the northwestern region as a whole is predicted to experience critically low groundwater availability in 2025… India’s groundwater usage exceeds that of the US and China combined

India is fast reaching its groundwater depletion tipping point. Agriculture, which contributes 17% to India’s GDP, followed by industries and factories, are heavily dependent on water – a critical natural resource. None can operate without it.

India’s Gangetic and Indus plains were once considered as the most resource-rich regions of the world, especially in terms of groundwater availability. In fact, one of the oft-repeated lore is that in states like Punjab and Haryana, one could find water even if using ordinary gardening tools to dig. That was once a reality, but the situation is now dramatically worrisome.

India is the world’s largest user of groundwater, exceeding the use of the United States and China combined. The northwestern region of India serves as the bread basket for the nation’s growing 1.4 billion people, with the states of Punjab and Haryana producing 50% of the country’s rice supply and 85% of its wheat stocks.

According to a report by the United Nations published in 2023, around 78% of wells in Punjab are considered overexploited and the northwestern region as a whole is predicted to experience critically low groundwater availability by 2025. Another study, titled Detection and Socio-economic Attribution of Groundwater Depletion in India, has found that India’s northern and northwestern hotspots have suffered a staggering loss of approximately 64.6 billion cubic metres of water over the past two decades.

Until recently, the rapid depletion of groundwater was considered a predominantly North Indian phenomenon. However, the study cited above has found that apart from Punjab and Haryana, India has four other hotspots where groundwater levels are going down at an alarming rate. These are Uttar Pradesh (Hotspot II), West Bengal (Hotspot III), Chhattisgarh (Hotspot IV) and Kerala (Hotspot V).

While the government has taken some steps – with limited successes – to stem the rapid depletion of India’s groundwater resources, for any meaningful change to be brought on this front will require a whole-of-society and all-hands-on-deck approach. Consider this: India would find itself in a desperate situation in the near future if groundwater resources are not saved immediately.

India depends significantly on groundwater to address seasonal shortages in surface water, particularly during dry periods and unpredictable monsoons. Groundwater supports around 62% of irrigation needs, 85% of rural water supply, and 45% of urban water usage. However, this extensive reliance has led to considerable stress on groundwater resources in many parts of the country.

A University of Michigan study highlights the concerning acceleration of groundwater depletion in India, raising serious concerns about the nation’s future water security. The report predicts that, if current trends continue, groundwater depletion rates could triple by 2080, significantly jeopardizing food and water security. The primary factor behind this trend is climate warming, which has compelled Indian farmers to increasingly rely on groundwater for irrigation.

What is especially worrying is the fact that India is fast approaching an environmental tipping point. These are thresholds in the Earth’s systems, beyond which abrupt and often irreversible changes occur. Effectively, that means India has an extremely narrow window of opportunity to get its act straight. If not, our groundwater resources may dry up forever – not to be recovered for a very long time.

In India, a very significant population stress is forcing us to pump more water out of the ground. That, complemented by agricultural intensification, industrial demands, and urbanisation is pushing India to the tipping point it must so desperately avoid. Climate change is playing the role of a catalyst. To combat rising temperatures, farmers are forced to extract more water from the ground in order to maintain their fields.

The lowering of the water table across India poses a tremendous threat to the country’s food security. In order to prevent the desertification of large swathes of India, it is crucial that a national policy for groundwater preservation is implemented. This must relook policies and subsidies that incentivise the uncontrolled use of groundwater. After all, the overexploitation of groundwater resources is driven largely by subsidies facilitating low-cost pumping technologies.

India stands at a crossroads, where decisive action on groundwater conservation is no longer optional but imperative. A comprehensive national framework must integrate technological innovation, policy reform, and community-led initiatives to curb unsustainable extraction. Public awareness campaigns are equally critical, empowering citizens to adopt water-efficient practices in daily life. Beyond policy, the private sector and civil society must collaborate to develop solutions tailored to regional challenges.