Groundwater Extraction in Haryana

• 05 Dec 2024

Why in News?

The Stage of Groundwater Extraction (SoE) in Haryana has reached 135.74%, signifying that the rate of groundwater extraction exceeds the sustainable utilization limit.

Key Points

• Current State of Groundwater Extraction:
  • Haryana
    • Annual Groundwater Recharge: 9.55 billion cubic metres (bcm)
    • Annual Extractable Groundwater: 8.69 bcm
    • Total Groundwater Extraction (2023): 11.8 bcm
    • SoE: 135.74%, indicating that extraction exceeds sustainable levels.
  • Punjab
    • Annual Groundwater Recharge: 18.84 bcm
    • Annual Extractable Groundwater: 16.98 bcm
    • Total Groundwater Extraction (2023): 27.8 bcm
    • SoE: Exceeds sustainable levels, with extraction higher than what can be sustainably used.
  • Rajasthan
    • Annual Groundwater Recharge: 12.45 bcm
    • Annual Extractable Groundwater: 11.25 bcm
    • Total Groundwater Extraction (2023): 16.74 bcm
    • SoE: 148.77%, indicating a significant over-extraction compared to recharge.
• Groundwater Depletion Concerns:
  • Environmental Degradation: When groundwater levels drop, saltwater can intrude into coastal areas, contaminating freshwater resources.
  • Groundwater Contamination: Human activities like agriculture, sewage, and industries can introduce pollutants like arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, and iron into groundwater.
  • Land Subsidence: When groundwater is overused, the soil can collapse, compact, and drop, causing land subsidence.
• Policy Recommendations:
  • The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) has urged states to reassess policies on providing free or subsidised electricity to farmers.
    • Introduce water pricing mechanisms to encourage sustainable use.
    • Implement crop rotation, diversification, and other measures to reduce dependency on groundwater.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) Efforts:
  • Since 2019, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan has been a mission-driven program focusing on rainwater harvesting and water conservation.
  • JSA 2024 is focused on 151 water-stressed districts across India.