Shrinking water reserves: A crisis beneath our feet
The declining water table contributes to increasing soil salinity, reducing agricultural fertility and harming biodiversity
Every year, World Water Day that falls on March 22 serves as a stark reminder of the global water crisis, with 220 crore people still lacking access to safe water. While surface water availability often dominates discussions, an equally pressing issue lurks underground — the rapid depletion of groundwater reserves. In Haryana, where agriculture forms the backbone of the economy and urbanisation is accelerating, groundwater depletion poses a significant threat to long-term sustainability: Haryana is one of the most water-stressed states in India, with over 60% of its blocks classified as overexploited or critical by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Recent estimates indicate that groundwater levels in parts of the state are depleting at an alarming rate of 1-1.2 metres per year.
The Green Revolution transformed Haryana into one of India’s leading producers of wheat and rice. However, this success has come at a cost. The cultivation of water-intensive crops like paddy requires extensive irrigation, leading to severe groundwater depletion. Farmers depend on tube wells to sustain their crops, but the unchecked extraction of groundwater has placed unsustainable pressure on the state’s aquifers.
Haryana’s urban centres, including Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panipat, are expanding rapidly, driving an unprecedented demand for groundwater. Municipal supply systems struggle to meet the needs of growing populations, forcing residents and businesses to extract groundwater indiscriminately. Industrial hubs, particularly in the textile and automobile sectors, also rely heavily on groundwater, further exacerbating the crisis.
Despite generating significant volumes of wastewater, Haryana has underutilised wastewater treatment and reuse. Properly treated wastewater could be repurposed for irrigation and industrial use, reducing dependence on groundwater. However, adoption remain sluggish due to inadequate infrastructure and regulatory challenges. As groundwater levels plummet, farmers struggle to access reliable irrigation sources, forcing them to invest in deeper and more expensive extraction methods. This increases production costs, leading to financial distress among farmers who are already grappling with market fluctuations and climate variability.
As groundwater resources dwindle, agricultural productivity is at risk. Haryana, a major contributor to India’s food supply, may find itself increasingly reliant on external food sources if groundwater depletion continues unchecked. The over-extraction of groundwater is leading to the drying up of rivers, lakes, and wetlands across the state. The declining water table also contributes to increasing soil salinity, reducing agricultural fertility and harming biodiversity. Without immediate intervention, the state’s ecological balance will be severely compromised.
In cities like Gurugram, excessive groundwater extraction is causing land subsidence. Structural damage due to shifting foundations has already been reported, signalling an urgent need for better groundwater management in urban areas. Strict regulations must be enforced to limit groundwater use in overexploited regions.
Haryana should strengthen its water resources (conservation, regulation, and management) authority to regulate groundwater consumption effectively. Additionally, introducing pricing mechanisms for groundwater use can discourage over-extraction. Expanding rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in urban areas like Gurugram and Faridabad is crucial. Constructing check dams, percolation ponds, and reviving traditional water conservation structures, such as johads in Mewat, can significantly enhance groundwater recharge.
Government incentives for adopting rainwater harvesting should be expanded to both rural and urban households. Encouraging farmers to shift from flood irrigation to more efficient methods such as drip and sprinkler irrigation can reduce water consumption. Promoting less water-intensive crops, such as millets, through subsidies and awareness programmes will help diversify Haryana’s agricultural landscape.
Strengthening the implementation of the Mera Pani, Meri Virasat scheme, which incentivises farmers to move away from paddy cultivation, will further aid groundwater conservation. Expanding wastewater treatment infrastructure, particularly in industrial hubs, can help reduce dependence on groundwater. Encouraging industries to utilise treated wastewater for production processes is a viable alternative. Haryana should also explore the development of a water trading mechanism, as suggested by Niti Aayog, to formalise the reuse of treated wastewater.
Haryana’s groundwater crisis is not just an environmental issue but a fundamental threat to agriculture, industry, and urban sustainability. As the state aspires to become a major industrial and economic hub, ensuring water security must be a priority. The perception of groundwater as an unlimited resource needs to change. Instead, it must be recognised as a precious asset requiring careful management and conservation. A comprehensive approach, combining regulatory measures, technological interventions, and community-driven conservation efforts, is necessary.
Rao Inderjit Singh is minister of state (independent charge), ministry of statistics, programme implementation and planning, and MoS in the ministry of culture. The views expressed are personal