EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : India’s groundwater governance is in better shape

Source: The Hindu

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance(Ground water, world Bank, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) and the National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM) etc
Mains GS Paper III: Geographical features and their locations- change in critical geographical features etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

India, with nearly 18% of the world’s population, occupies about 4(two point four)% of the total geographical area and consumes 4% of total water resources.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

Groundwater;

Groundwater is the water present below the earth’s surface and is a vast resource of water.
Almost 22 percent of water is below the surface land in the form of groundwater.
World Bank report: India is the largest groundwater user.

Importance of Groundwater:

Groundwater is the backbone of India’s agriculture and drinking water security in rural and urban areas
It meets nearly 80% of the country’s drinking water and two-thirds of its irrigation needs.
Groundwater is pivotal to India’s water security.

Steps taken by the government for sustainable groundwater management:

Reduction in groundwater extraction to below 70%
Increasing the network of groundwater observation wells,
Installing digital water level recorders for real-time monitoring,
Periodic monitoring of groundwater quality
Aquifer mapping and data dissemination
Having better regulation of groundwater extraction by industries
Promoting participatory groundwater management
Periodic groundwater resource assessment.
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).
Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched to transform Jan Shakti into Jal Shakti through asset creation
- Rainwater harvesting (‘Catch the Rain’ campaign)
- extensive awareness campaign.

Initiatives for the effective management and regulation of groundwater:

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): It looks to inculcate behavioral change made possible by incentivisation.
National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM): It envisages the mapping of subsurface water bearing geological formations (aquifers) to help gather authentic data and enable informed decision-making.
There are around 65,025 groundwater monitoring stations in India, which include 7,885 automated stations.
Samples from fixed locations are obtained to check for the presence of heavy and trace metals.
A software, ‘India-Groundwater Resource Estimation System (IN-GRES)’, has also been developed.

What does the latest groundwater assessment show?

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.
There was an improvement in groundwater conditions in 909 units.
A reduction in annual extraction (of about 53(nine point five three)billion cubic meters)
Overall extraction saw a declining trend, of about 25(three point two five)% since 2017.

What does the groundwater assessment indicate?

It shows that a time-bound and scientific approach is being adopted to monitor precious water resources.
It indicates a positive inclination in the management of groundwater.

Reasons for success:

Implementation of comprehensive groundwater guidelines in 2020 for regulation in various sectors
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.

Way Forward

The Theme of UN World Water Day 2022: ‘Groundwater, Making the Invisible Visible’ is a reflection of the importance given to the resource across the globe.
A heli-borne based survey (state-of-the-art technology), has also been used along with traditional exploratory methods for rapid and accurate aquifer mapping.
Region-wise aquifer management plans are being prepared and shared with States.
Dynamic groundwater assessments will be done annually now and a groundwater estimation committee formed to revise the assessment methodology.
The positive change in groundwater: It reflects the spirit of cooperative federalism in managing this precious resource.
- Around 37(nine point three seven) BCM of additional groundwater potential was created through artificial water conservation structures
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.
Communities will have to manage their groundwater resources better with the help of various government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Find solutions that are essential for sustainable development.
Steps must be taken to make India a water surplus nation, thus fulfilling the objective of a key United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, of water for all.