India is the highest user of groundwater with minimum water being recharged. What are the reasons for such over-exploitation and in what ways India can regain the lost resources. Examine. (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· In India, about 90% of the rural water supply, 50% of the urban water supply, and 70% of the agricultural water supply is from ground reservoirs.
· India is the highest user of groundwater, even ahead of the US and China, consuming over 70% of groundwater.
· In this context, it is also interesting to note that only 8% of rainwater is actually captured in India.
Reasons for over exploitation
· Increase in population and the uneven distribution of it
· Rapid urbanisation led lifestyle changes alters water consumption patterns
· Degradation of ponds by human activity
· Water intensive crops given more priority
· Exports water-intensive crops and imports water prudent crops
· Industries polluted the ground water, affecting nearby communities
· Administrative responses had further degraded the situation. For example:
Ø Free electricity for agriculture has over the years led to over irrigation and overuse of water
Suggestions
· Constructing recharge shafts/wells to benefit the water levels locally, through harvesting, collecting, and recharging will help replenish ground waters.
· Minimising water drainage and directing it to the aquifer as in areas where there is less or no contamination of water is another approach to save water.
· In urban areas, where land is scarce, parks can be constructed a level below the ground level to allow the direct rain water drainage into the ground.
· Also, reducing water consumption through cost-effective methods, through timely and sustained implementation programs can be taken up.
