‘More groundwater used than recharged’

Delhi's groundwater extraction exceeded recharge in 2024, reversing a sustainable trend, with 41% of areas deemed over-exploited, warns CGWB report.

Updated on: Jan 7, 2025, 06:04:19 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Delhi extracted more groundwater in 2024 than it recharged, reversing a two-year trend of sustainable usage, according to the latest Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) report released in December 2024. The capital recharged 0.34 billion cubic metres (bcm) of groundwater (34,190.47 cubic hectare metres or ham) during the year but extracted 34,453.58 ham, making the extraction rate 100.77%.

The capital extracted 34,453.58 ham during the year. (HT Archive)

This marked a shift from the extraction rates of 99.13% in 2022-23 and 98.16% in 2021-22. Extraction rates above 100% indicate more water is being drawn than replenished, worsening groundwater depletion, the report said. The rate was 101.4% in 2020-21 and a concerning 119.6% in 2017-18, officials said.

The CGWB report categorised Delhi’s 34 tehsils into four groundwater safety classifications. Fourteen (41.18%) were deemed “over-exploited,” 13 (38.24%) as “critical,” two (5.88%) as “semi-critical,” and only five (14.71%) as “safe.” In safe zones, recharge exceeds extraction, allowing the water table to rise by up to 2 metres annually. Semi-critical and critical zones see 70-100% extraction, while over-exploited zones exceed 100%, causing the water table to fall, the report mentioned.

According to the report, over-exploited areas include Shahdara, Mehrauli, Kapashera, Rajouri Garden, Vasant Vihar, Narela, Karol Bagh, and Mayur Vihar. Notably, the number of over-exploited tehsils fell to 13 in 2023 from 15 in 2022.

Residential use accounted for most of the groundwater extraction (0.26bcm), while irrigation accounted for 0.08bcm. The report attributed the marginal increase in extraction to urban expansion and unauthorised colonies. “When the city is expanding, there will be areas or unauthorised colonies where water is not initially available, and so groundwater extraction is the only reason to get water,” said Shashank Shekhar, assistant professor, Department of Geology, Delhi University. He added, “Long-term, we are still seeing an improvement, though as Delhi’s piped water supply is expanding rapidly.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jasjeev Gandhiok
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.