Challenges in Managing the Groundwater Resources

Abstract

Only about 5% of the total groundwater extracted is used for domestic drinking water supply. Irrigation accounts for utilised by other sectors including, industries. The rapid development of groundwater has shown that in 85% of all groundwater extraction. The remaining 10% of the ground water extracted is Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana the water table is declining at the rate of 30 cm every year.

The assessment units have been categorized based on stage of ground water development into four categories, namely – ‘Safe’, ‘Semi-critical’, ‘Critical’ and ‘Overexploited’ areas. A few areas have also been notified for putting more restrictions on groundwater abstraction.

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control development and management of ground water resources in the country. Of late, the implementation of CGWA rules formed for regulation and management of groundwater are being enforced with more strictness. But the institutional mechanism does not seem to be sufficient to deal with the proper implementation of rules. Attempt has been made here to briefly describe the challenges being faced by various stakeholders of water.