Recommendations of Standing Committee on Water Resources

The Standing Committee on Water Resources submitted its report on the subject “Review of ground water scenario, need for a comprehensive policy and measures to address problems in the country with particular reference to (i) dark blocks, and (ii) contamination of underground water by certain industries” in December 2015.

About ground water scenario in India

Ground water seeps through rocks and soil and is stored below the ground. Aquifers are the rocks in which ground water is stored. Aquifers are made up of gravel, sand, sandstone or limestone. The depth from the surface at which ground water is found is called the water table. Continuous extraction of ground water can cause the water table to fall.

Two types of underground (hydrogeological) setting of ground water

The underground (hydrogeological) setting helps in knowing the potential of ground water and its vulnerability to irreversible degradation.

Hard-rock aquifers of peninsular India

These aquifers constitute nearly 65% of the country’s aquifer surface area. These aquifers are mostly found in central peninsular India, where hard rock formations underlie the land surface. These rocks have resulted in the formation of extensive low storage aquifer system, where the water level drops rapidly once the water table falls more than 2-6 metres. These aquifers are also characterized by poor permeability which affects recharge through rainfall. If over-exploited these aquifers may eventually dry out as they are non-replenishable.

Alluvial aquifers of the Indo-Gangetic plains

These aquifers are found in the Gangetic and Indus plains in Northern India. These aquifers have significant storage spaces and acts as a valuable source of fresh water supply in that region. However, due to overexploitation and low recharge rates, they are at the risk of irreversible overexploitation.

Major pollutants present in the ground water

Ground water has certain pollutants that are in excess of the limits prescribed for drinking water. The most commonly present contaminants are arsenic, fluoride, nitrate and iron, which are geogenic (these contaminants are present as a result of geological processes that happen within the crust of the earth.) in nature. Other contaminants which are present due to human activities are bacteria, phosphates and heavy metals, domestic sewage, agricultural practices (overuse of fertilizers and pesticides) and industrial effluents, pollution by landfills, septic tanks, leaky underground gas tanks etc. So, as a result roughly 60% of all districts in the country have issues either related to availability of ground water or quality of ground water, or both.

Status of ground water availability in India

The following data has been provided by the Water and related statistics 2015:

• Total annual replenishable ground water potential of the country has been estimated as 433 BCM.
• The 14 States which comprise more than 90% of ground water potential are: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
• In terms of replenishable ground water resources, Uttar Pradesh ranks first (17.84%) followed by Andhra Pradesh (8.29%), Madhya Pradesh (8.10%) Maharashtra (7.85%), Bihar (6.78%), West Bengal (6.76%) and Assam (6.59 %).
• Proportion of over- exploited area is highest in Delhi followed by Haryana and Daman & Diu.
• Among the States/UT, the problem of salinity is significant in Puducherry and Gujarat.
• Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana account for 65% of the total bore holes in the country.

Other significant statistics:

• The overall contribution of rainfall to the country’s annual ground water resource is 68%. Similarly, 32% is contributed by other resources, such as canal seepage, return flow from irrigation, recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures.
• The level of ground water development is more than 100% in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. However, the annual ground water consumption is more than annual ground water recharge in these states.
• The level of ground water development is 70% and above in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• The level of ground water development is below 70% in the rest of the states.

Main impediment in regulating ground water resources

The Easement Act, 1882 grants all the landowners the right to collect and dispose within his/her own limits of all water under the land and on the surface. In this way, the regulation of ground water has been made difficult as the ground water has been made as the property of the landowner.

Major central level water institutions responsible for groundwater management

• Central Water Commission: It monitors the water quality, and in collaboration with state governments initiates and coordinates schemes for the conservation and utilization of water resources in the country.
• Central Ground Water Board: It is the apex organization of the Ministry of Water Resources dealing with ground water and related issues. It develops and disseminates technology as well as monitors and implements the national policies for the scientific and sustainable development and management of India’s ground water resources, based on principles of economic and ecological efficiency and equity.
• Central Ground Water Authority: It was constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control ground water resources.
• Central Pollution Control Board: It aims to restore water quality by Implementing the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

Recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee

Following are the major recommendations of the Standing Committee which reviewed the ground water scenario in the country

Database on natural and artificial recharge of water

Last assessment of ground water resources in the country was carried out in 2011. The committee recommends that the assessment of ground water resources should be done on a regular basis preferably once in every two years. Further, to help in augmenting the efforts towards conservation, a single agency must be created to maintain a database on:

• amount of ground water being utilized by various stakeholders,
• natural and artificial recharge of ground water.

Study of Dark Blocks

Assessment of agricultural land falling under dark blocks (over-exploited assessment units) should be initiated to determine suitable cropping pattern in these water stressed areas. Also, an impact study to estimate the agricultural losses caused due to the dark blocks has to be carried out.

Ground water withdrawal for agriculture

In Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, to prevent overexploitation of ground water following measures need to be taken:

• Adoption of on-farm water management techniques and improved irrigation methods,
• implementation of ‘Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water’,
• revamping agricultural power pricing structure, as flat rate of electricity adversely affects the use of ground water, and
• A well-defined policy on ground water extraction should be framed to ensure long-term sustainability.

Water under concurrent list of the Constitution

Bringing water under the concurrent list will help to develop a more comprehensive plan of action. Consensus and cooperation between the centre and states will ensure better conservation, development and management of water, including ground water.

Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water

‘Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water’ was prepared by the Central Ground Water Board in 2013 and was circulated to all states. A comprehensive review regarding the implementation of the Plan by states/ union territories has to be carried out. A time-bound roadmap to achieve the objectives has to be evolved.

Synergy between MGNREGS and ground water management

Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, optimized returns on works related to ground water conservation have to be ensured. A special body may be created to coordinate the actions of Ministries of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development.

Census of water bodies and installation of water meters on tube wells

A time bound inventory of water bodies (including ponds) has to be carried out in the country.  Installation of water meters in all tube-wells should be made compulsory on the principle of ‘Beneficiary Pays’. This will help to reduce subsidies for farmers and overexploitation of under water resources.

Contamination of ground water by industries

Steps have to be taken to reduce and control the dumping of industrial waste into surface water and underground aquifers. Ministry of Water Resources in coordination with Central Pollution Control Board should identify critically polluted areas located in dark blocks.

Enforcement of NOCs by Central Ground Water Authority

Regular inspections should be carried out in the industries to ensure compliance of conditions mentioned in the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by Central Ground Water Authority. Similarly, all State Pollution Control Boards should also set up an appropriate and effective monitoring mechanism.