68% wells in MP show fall in groundwater level

A pre-monsoon report by the Central Ground Water Board on the groundwater scenario in the country has stated that 68% of the wells monitored in Madhya Pradesh have recorded a decline in groundwater levels, as compared to 2014

Published on: Jan 14, 2016, 16:34:14 IST

Hindustan Times | By Neeraj Santoshi, Bhopal

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A pre-monsoon report by the Central Ground Water Board on the groundwater scenario in the country has stated that 68% of the wells monitored in Madhya Pradesh have recorded a decline in groundwater levels, as compared to 2014.

The fall in the groundwater level has been reported primarily in the north and western parts of the state. (HT photo)

As the second largest state in the country and many geographical variations, there is a difference in the groundwater seepage in different parts of MP. The fall in the groundwater level has been reported primarily in the north and western parts of the state.

The rise in ground water level has been reported in only 29% of the wells monitored.

However, when the groundwater level of 2015 is compared to the decadal mean (2005 -2014) for the groundwater scenario in the state, 48% of the wells show a decline in water level.

Over 90% of water used for drinking and domestic purposes in MP sourced from groundwater

According to experts, an increasing demand of water for human consumption, agriculture and industry, coupled with erratic rainfall has led to the indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater.

Speaking to HT on the issue, Lokendra Thakkar, state coordinator of the Climate Change Knowledge Management Centre on Climate Change, said over 90% of the water used for drinking and domestic purposes in MP was being sourced from groundwater, according to the Action Plan on Climate Change prepared by the state government.

He said that MP’s climate change report had also expressed concern over the indiscriminate exploitation of groundwater and its depletion in some areas.

“Also, the rainfall data in the state shows an increasing trend of heavy rainfall over the past 50 years compared to normal, consistent rainfall. It is possible that due to increasing heavy rainfall, there is a higher run off, which leads to a decrease in groundwater recharge,” he said.

Decline in groundwater levels can also be linked to deficient rainfall

Rajiv Sukalikar, chief engineer of the water resources department, said that the decline can also be linked to deficient rainfall. “The decline in groundwater levels is primarily because of the usage of groundwater for irrigation, drinking water, construction purposes and industrial usage is increasing while the replenishing rainfall has not been increasing in the same proportion. We had deficient and erratic rainfall for the last few years, which has affected the replenishing of groundwater,” he said.

Madhya Pradesh is not alone — the report shows that there has been a fall in groundwater levels in almost the entire country, with a few states like Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu the notable exceptions. Across India, 57% of the wells have shown a fall in groundwater levels.

All is not well

In general, the depth of water level in MP ranges from 5m to 20m below ground level (bgl)

1% monitoring wells show water level in 0-2m bgl range

15% of wells show water level in 2-5 m bgl range

Water levels of more than 20m bgl were observed at 5% wells in northernmost parts of the state

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi
Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.Read More

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