We are now witnessing the worst water crisis in India, which has populations of nearly 18 percent of the world. We are now in a middle of a crisis that threatens not only the quantity of water resources but also the quality of water in the country especially that which is contained in the aquifers. They are highly overexploited having become the main sources of water for agriculture, industries, and domestic use while they are also being depleted at high rates thus posing a major threat to the water security and inherent economic stability of the nation.
India is the largest consumer of groundwater and pumps out more water from borewells, for all uses, than the USA and China put together. The subsequent research has shown that 54% of wells in India are have decreasing trends and some of the areas have been observed to decline by more than 8 cm per annum. By certain estimates, this process is occurring much faster; the mention of agricultural states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan depicts how over-extraction is a result of intensive farming practices.
There is a variety of factors that lead to the problem of groundwater depletion. The Green Revolution had some drawbacks as it brought in more food production but at the same time increased water use in production. When electricity is provided free or at a very low cost especially to farmers, this fuels the over pumping of underground water for use in irrigation. Urbanization has led to higher water consumption rates, and lowered the rate of natural groundwater replenishment due to the larger coverage surface sealing. Most sectors depend on this water source, in most cases, they use it in a manner that cannot be replenished. The tones of climate have changed and the rate of evaporation has also increased due to higher temperatures and precipitation has also been affected. At the same time, inadequate measures have been taken to check the negative effects of unlimited extraction of water from the ground.
In order to fully address this critical issue, therefore, a comprehensive strategy would need to be implemented involving different tiers of government, communities, and individuals. Education can also be greatly focused on better agricultural practices such as methods of water wise irrigation like drip and sprinkler irrigation, crop water product density, and precision irrigation.
It is therefore necessary to have rain water harvesting being compulsory in the urban areas for replenishment of the ground water. This includes the restoration of traditional systems of water harvesting like the Step wells and tanks and the revival of roof top rain water harvesting structures in the both the urban and the rural areas. Promoting artificial recharge through fresh water retention through check dams and percolation tanks in proper aquifer forms, and dispensing MAR structures in over exploited zones would aid in the replenishment of the ground water.
There should be attempts to enhance policy and regulations in order to bring a more effective solution. This involves executing or safeguarding the groundwater legislation, adopting measures in terms of price control of groundwater in order to reduce over exploitation of the water resource, and adopting water rationing at the community and district level. It also includes the use of GPS and GIS for mapping and tracking of aquifers, the application of smart water metering systems in the urban environments as well as the development of warning devices for ground water exhaustion.
Community participation is an essential component for sustainable management of ground water resources. Some measures are constitution of PGM programs to enhance the local communities’ control over water resources and supporting water user associations to undertake the task of managing water resources to sustainably. Community members and especially children need to be informed on how they could be saving water and hence several information campaigns need to be carried out all over the country and water conservation made part of the syllabus in learning institutions.
Given the need for enhanced industrial water management, there is a need for measures such as policies on the use of groundwater that are closely monitored and scientifically based policies regarding water re-use and zero discharge of water. Urban planning should apply the water sensitive urban design approach and extend greenery cover in designs to encourage natural recharging. Each of these areas requires considerable investment in research needed for development of drought tolerant crops, in addition to water treatment and reuse technologies.
There are several problems anymore associated with the implementation of these strategies for example, financial issues of resources, organizational resistance to change and issue of coordination with other stakeholders. The measures taken by the government through Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Atal Bhujal Yojana to enhance water conservation and the management of ground water are in the right direction. These initiatives require augmentation and intensification.
Therefore, conservation of aquifers in India is not just an environmental concern, but, a socio-economic requirement. It calls for a shift in the perception and appreciation of water as a resource as well as how it is used and allocated. If concerted efforts are made by framing strong policies and involving the people along with the help of technology tradition and technology non-tradition measures can be adopted to reverse the India’s predicament of depleting water table. Water security for future generations is at stake and the time is right now to work for the preservation of groundwater in the nation.
The author is National President of Indian Plumbing Association