Haryana become first state to complete Aquifer Mapping

Haryana become the first state in the country to complete aquifer mapping for its groundwater resources. Aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock from which groundwater can be extracted.

Key facts :

• Aquifer mapping: This technique will help in estimating the quantity and quality of groundwater present inside the rock and also determines the exact location, its size, amount of water that can be stored and its recharge point.
• Objective: To prepare management plans in consultation with stakeholders and state governments to take measures to replenish the declining groundwater.
• Nodal Agency: This aquifer mapping is undertaken by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) on the scale of 1:50,000 in 3D.
• Technology: For this purpose, CGWB is using advanced technologies like heli-borne geophysical surveys and sophisticated software such as Rock Works, ARC GIS, Modflow and Map Info have been used for preparing management plans.
• Target: CGWB has set target to complete the aquifer mapping of the entire country by 2022.
• In the first phase, 8 states have been selected for this kind of scientific mapping where groundwater situation has already reached a critical level.
• These states are Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
• It was for the first time that such mapping had been undertaken on a large scale.

Implications :

• The aquifer mapping will eventually help in predicting the groundwater scenario in the country as most of groundwater reservoirs are over-exploited.
• It will assist the states in estimating the quantity and quality of groundwater in an aquifer and help in assessment of sustainable level of water extraction.
• It will further help these states for subsequent planning for water use in order to make the country climate change resilient.

Background :

• The exercise has been launched against the backdrop of studies and surveys, suggesting steady shrinkage in the water table.
• At present, 1071 units out of total 6607 groundwater assessment units (blocks/mandals/talukas) in the country are over-exploited.
• Additionally, 914 units are in various stages of groundwater criticality.
• An over-exploited unit means that the withdrawal of water is more than the recharge in that particular unit.
• The surveys pointed out rampant exploitation of groundwater in northern states considered to be country’s food basket. These states, including Haryana and Punjab, produce 15 per cent of country’s foodgrain.
• Significantly, the states have also witnessed fast and massive urbanisation.
• In Haryana, a ban on exploitation of underground water had been imposed in some of its districts, including Gurgaon, about a decade back. Reports suggest that the ban imposed by Central Ground Water Board was violated with impunity.

By: Harman Sandhu