Groundwater development - Present scenario and future needs
- 2003
- p.301-307.
- Jul-Sep
The development activities over the years have adversely affected the groundwater regime. With rapid expansion in groundwater extraction, development related problems have started emerging. Substantial declines and fluctuations of groundwater levels are occurring even in blocks with sufficient groundwater resources due to climatic vicissitudes and localised development. Fluctuations in the water table due to groundwater extraction for agriculture reduce reliability of shallow wells as sources of drinking water. Excessive groundwater development has also resulted in groundwater quality deterioration especially in coastal areas and those adjacent to areas with saline aquifers. The article emphasis that management of groundwater resources is inherently linked with its development. The sustainability of groundwater resources is endangered due to haphazard development activities resulting into water scarcity in many areas of the country. The corrective approach in this regard requires a planned development of groundwater resources. The measures suggested in the article include use of saline/brackish water and artificial recharge of groundwater. Central Ground Water Board is organising training on rainwater harvesting including roof-top rain-water harvesting in different parts of the country. - Reproduced.