India’s collaborative efforts and initiatives like MGNREGS have led to significant improvements in groundwater recharge, quality, and management. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, these measures ensure a secure water future for generations to come.

India experienced a significant increase of 15 BCM (Billion Cubic Meters) recharge of groundwater since 2017, according to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). In the meanwhile, extraction of groundwater decreased by 3 BCM compared to the 2017 assessment.

This finding is contained in this year’s ‘National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2024’ published by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in collaboration with State Groundwater Departments. The compilation releases the annual reports on groundwater resources.

The document offers a comprehensive state-wise overview, serving as a foundation for effective policies and management strategies regarding ground water in the country.

According to the latest report, the total annual groundwater recharge is assessed at 446.90 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM), with an extractable resource of 406.19 BCM and an annual extraction of 245.64 BCM. The report highlights increased recharge, mainly due to water bodies, tanks, and conservation structures and shows improvements in groundwater
conditions in 128 units compared to 2023.

According to Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) officials, this progress underscores the importance of understanding groundwater’s availability, usage, and the challenges ahead.

“A single drop of water journeys across the land filtering through rocks and sand to become the invaluable resource we rely on — clean groundwater,” says the CGWB in a press release through the PIB. “This essential source supports life, fuels agricultural productivity and secures water for millions.”

Recharge from Tanks, Ponds

CGWB says that 2024 has seen positive advancements in several key areas. The total annual groundwater recharge from tanks, ponds and Water Control System (WCS) has shown a consistent increase in the last five assessments. In the year 2024, it has increased by 0.39 BCM with respect to 2023.

With respect to the year 2017, there is an increase of 11.36 BCM in recharge from tanks, ponds and WCS (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).

The percentage of overexploited assessment units have declined from 17.24 per cent in 2017 to 11.13 per cent in 2024.

According to the CGWB, maintaining groundwater quality is just as crucial as its recharge for sustainable water management. Key pollutants such as Arsenic, Fluoride, Chloride, Uranium, and Nitrate pose serious health risks, either through direct toxicity or long-term exposure, the organisation says.

To assess the critical areas impacted by contamination, the Annual Groundwater Quality Report for 2024 offers a comprehensive analysis of groundwater quality across India, drawing insights from data collected at over 15,200 monitoring locations and 4,982 trend stations. The report emphasises the importance of not only preserving groundwater but also ensuring its quality for effective, long-term water management.

The report further reveals that 81 per cent of groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation, with 100 per cent of groundwater samples from the North-Eastern states being rated “excellent” for irrigation, underscoring the favourable conditions for agriculture in the region.

MGNREGS Rocks

The CGWB says that these positive outcomes are the result of collaborative efforts between state and central governments. The government of India has launched various initiatives to preserve water and ensure its availability for future generations. The report notes that the key schemes include:

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): Includes water conservation and water harvesting structures, enhancing rural water security.
• The 15th Finance Commission Grants: Provides financial assistance to states for rainwater harvesting and other water conservation activities.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Launched in 2019, now in its 5th phase (“Catch the Rain” 2024), focusing on rainwater harvesting and water conservation across rural and urban districts through convergence of various schemes.
• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0: Supports rainwater harvesting via stormwater drains and promotes groundwater recharge through ‘Aquifer Management Plans’.

Apart from these schemes, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has formulated guidelines for the states to adopt measures suitable to local conditions, such as unified building bye laws (UBBL) of Delhi, 2016, model building bye laws (MBBL), 2016 and urban and regional development plan formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) guidelines, 2014 with focus on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.

In addition, the Atal Bhujal Yojana (2020) targets water-stressed gram panchayats in 80 districts across seven states, focusing on groundwater management. Simultaneously, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) aims to expand irrigation coverage and improve water use efficiency through components like Har Khet Ko Pani, the repair and renovation of water bodies, and surface minor irrigation schemes.

Harvesting, Conservation and Augmenting

The ministry of Jal Shakti set up the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission in 2022 to act as a facilitator for promotion of improving water use efficiency across various sectors namely irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, industries, etc. in the country.

Likewise, Mission Amrit Sarovar (2022) aims to create or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district for water harvesting and conservation and the National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) completed by the CGWB for over 25 lakh sq. km, supports groundwater recharge and conservation plans.

The master plan for artificial recharge of groundwater (2020) developed by CGWB, plans for 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting and recharge structures to harness 185 BCM of rainfall.

Under the Ground Water Management and Regulation Scheme, the CGWB has implemented several successful artificial recharge projects in the country for demonstrative purpose which enable state governments to replicate the same in suitable hydro-geological conditions.

The National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, which advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and also highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.

Likewise, the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY (WDC-PMKSY) focuses on rainfed and degraded lands, incorporating activities like soil conservation, rainwater harvesting, and livelihoods development.

India’s collaborative efforts and key initiatives have led to significant improvements in groundwater recharge, quality, and management. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, these measures ensure a secure water future for generations to come.