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Examine the Major Causes of Ground Water depletion in India. UPSC geography optional paper 2 2019

Examine the Major Causes of Ground Water depletion in India. UPSC geography optional paper 2 2019

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Examine the Major Causes of Ground Water depletion in India.
(UPSC geography optional paper 2 2019, 10 Marks)
Answer:
Water is a state subject in India, regions variation in water management is seen. But Central water commission and Central Ground Water Board(CGWB)  are constituted for monitoring the water status in India. Groundwater is also called an aquifer, in India major source of groundwater recharging is Monsoon.
As per the Central Groundwater Board ( CGWB):
  • Majority of districts in India facing major depletion in groundwater shortage.
  • 91 cm per year ground table is declining.
  • 21 major cities will run out without groundwater by 2020
  • Northwest India and Western India are over the exploited region of groundwater.


The following are major reasons for groundwater depletion:
  • Demand-side
  • Supply-side 

Demand Side reason:

  • Intensive ground water-based irrigation agriculture and excess withdrawal of groundwater due to unmetered pump or flat bill or subsidized rate of electrical.
    • Nearly 90% of irrigation used from groundwater in Indo Gangetic plain, Northwestern, Central, and western parts of India. 
  • Due to MSP and other policies, the cultivation of water intense crops is growing.
  • Overpopulation is causing more demand for water
  • Use of groundwater for industrial uses in increasing
Supply Side reason:

  • Low-intensity rainfall:
    • Groundwater is declined between 1990 to 2016 in the northwest and north-central India due to low-intensity rainfall.
  • Concretization of roads, drainage, colonies leads to less seeping of precipitation into groundwater.
Groundwater Management:

  • No over-irrigation:
    • The crop should irrigate when it required. Tensiometer should be used to access soil moisture. Farmer should not irrigate when there is a green signal in the Tensiometer.
  • Farmer Should cultivate low water-intensive crop in depleted areas of groundwater
  • Farmer should use better irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation techniques
  • Groundwater should be taxed for the rich farmer and business activities.
  • Rainwater harvesting 
  • Collection and Usage  Surface water
  • More research and traditional knowledge must be utilized for groundwater recharging. 
Source: The Hindu
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