downtoearth-subscribe

India groundwater governance: case study

Groundwater has played a significant role in the maintenance of India’s economy, environment, and standard of living. India is the largest groundwater user in the world. Through the construction of millions of private wells, there has been a phenomenal growth in the exploitation of groundwater in the last five decades. The factors driving this expansion include poor public irrigation and drinking water delivery, new pump technologies, the flexibility and timeliness of groundwater supply, and government electricity subsidies. As a result, 29 percent of the groundwater assessment blocks in the country are classified in semi-critical, critical, or overexploited categories with the situation deteriorating rapidly.

Related Content