Ground Water Governance

Ground Water Governance is the Need of the Hour in India. Discuss the Stressed Conditions of Ground Water and Suggest Some Steps to Tackle it.  

Introduction

India's development has become strongly dependent on its groundwater resources. More than half of the agricultural sector depends on irrigation from wells, characterised by deep-rooted but often inefficient practices. 

 Apart from rising demands from a growing population with changing consumption patterns, normal variations in monsoon cycles together with climate change are increasing the unpredictability in estimating future water availability.

  More irregular and intense rainfall patterns are also altering the groundwater recharge potential.

   Considering the strategic importance of aquifers for storage, the regulation of India's groundwater resources is badly in need of reform.  

What is Groundwater Governance?

  Groundwater governance is about decision-making on groundwater, involving individuals or organized entities at various levels. 

 Groundwater governance comprises the promotion of responsible collective action to ensure socially sustainable utilization and effective protection of groundwater resources for the benefit of humankind and dependent ecosystems.

 It involves the formulation, establishment and implementation of water policies, legislation, institutions and water administration. 

 It emphasises the need for clarification of the roles and responsibilities of government, civil society and the private sector.

 The four broad tenets of groundwater governance are:

1) Transparency 

2) Participation 

3) Information 

4) The custom and rule of law.

 Current Situation of Groundwater in India 

The current situation of groundwater in India is very critical. Due to successive weak monsoon year by year and excessive use of extraction of ground water has led to the decrease in groundwater.

 As per the assessment of dynamic ground water resources of country carried out jointly by Central Ground Water Board and State Ground Water Departments, out of the total 6584 numbers of assessment units, 1034 units have been categorized as 'over-exploited'.

  Out of total 1034 units, majority of over-exploited units are belongs to six states: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. 

 The reason is due to increase in population, rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and over-exploitation for agriculture in these states.  

 Measures to improve Groundwater in India 

  Assessment of ground water resources should be undertaken on a regular basis. This will help augment the efforts towards conservation, development and management of the resource and in tackling issues such as its over-exploitation, depletion and pollution.

 A study to assess land-use and proportion of agricultural land falling under over-exploited units should be initiated. This will help in determining suitable cropping pattern in areas that are water stressed.

  Increasing water storage capacities through activities such as farm ponds, percolation tanks, water reservoirs and construction of small and medium size dams can retain more surface water, while increasing the ground water recharge.

 In the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, ground water levels are fast depleting due to excessive exploitation for agriculture use. To improve the situation, a well-defined policy on ground water extraction should be framed to ensure long-term sustainability.

 Bringing the subject of water under the concurrent list will help evolve a comprehensive plan of action. Consensus between the centre and states will result in better conservation, development and management of water, including ground water.

 To regulate over-use of ground water for irrigation and drinking purposes, installation of water meters in all tube-wells should be made mandatory on the principle of 'beneficiary pays'. This will also result in a reduction in subsidies for farmers.

  Steps should be initiated to achieve optimised returns on works related to ground water conservation taken under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. 

  Steps should be taken for sustainable ground water management with community participation. In this regard, the central government has proposed Atal Bhujal Scheme with World Bank assistance.