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Making Groundwater Sustainable
Context:
India is a global agricultural powerhouse, dominating the production of essential food grains like rice, wheat, and pulses.
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- This leadership positions India at the forefront of producing water-intensive crops, with paddy cultivation playing a pivotal role in meeting both domestic demand and export needs.
- However, this booming agricultural sector comes at a significant cost, particularly in terms of the country’s finite groundwater resources used for irrigation.
India is home to 17% of the global population but only 4% of its water resources. 820 million Indians face high to extreme water stress. 200,000 Indians die every year due to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene.
The Groundwater Crisis
- India’s agricultural success, however, is jeopardised by the over-exploitation of its groundwater resources.
- Between 2016 and 2024, India’s population grew from 1.29 billion to 1.45 billion, while the proportion of groundwater used for irrigation increased from 38% to 52%.
- Major paddy-producing states like Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana have over-extracted groundwater, leading to severe depletion of water reserves.
Impact of Over-Irrigation and Fertiliser Usage
- Groundwater Depletion: Most districts in these states are facing dwindling groundwater levels due to excessive irrigation.
- Salinisation: Over-irrigation leads to the salinisation of groundwater, especially in Rajasthan, which has the highest rate (22%) despite receiving the most rainfall (608 mm).
- Fertilizer Contamination: Excessive use of fertilizers leads to contamination of groundwater with harmful chemicals like nitrates and uranium, particularly in states such as Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
- Nitrate contamination from nitrogen fertilizers and uranium contamination from phosphate fertilizers pose severe health risks, including blue baby syndrome, thyroid disorders, and cancer.
Health and Agricultural Consequences
- Health Risks: Polluted groundwater causes chronic illnesses, such as blue baby syndrome, thyroid disorders, and cancer.
- Reduced Agricultural Productivity: Groundwater pollution also impacts soil health and crop yields, further reducing agricultural output and income.
The Need for Immediate Action
- Population Projections: India’s population is expected to reach 1.52 billion by 2036, emphasising the urgency of addressing the groundwater crisis to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.
- Risk of Groundwater Depletion: The CGWB warns that, if current trends continue, over half of Punjab’s districts could face groundwater exhaustion in the near future, with Haryana and Rajasthan also at risk.
Government Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture
- The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (2014) promotes sustainable practices like zero tillage, cover cropping, and micro-irrigation to conserve water and improve soil health.
- The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (2015) encourages drip and sprinkler irrigation to optimize water use in agriculture.
- The Atal Bhujal Yojana (2019) focuses on efficient groundwater management in states like Gujarat, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Positive Impact of Government Measures
- As a result of these initiatives, unsustainable groundwater levels in India decreased from 23% of districts in 2016-17 to 19% in 2023-24.
- These initiatives are proving effective in improving groundwater sustainability, but continued efforts are crucial.
Role of State Governments
- States with unsustainable groundwater levels, such as Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, must take immediate steps to address the crisis.
- States with safe groundwater levels, such as Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Odisha, should adopt resource-efficient agricultural practices to avoid future problems.
- Odisha’s Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture emphasises water-efficient and climate-smart agricultural practices.
- Funded by the World Bank, the project has already helped reduce groundwater extraction in the state.
Way Forward
- Blueprint for the Future: State-level initiatives like Odisha’s project offer a model for sustainable water management in agriculture, ensuring both water conservation and agricultural resilience.
- Global Food Security: By scaling up these efforts, India can protect its critical groundwater resources, improve agricultural productivity, and contribute to global food security, especially in the face of climate change.
India must urgently adopt more sustainable agricultural practices and improve irrigation systems to secure its agricultural future. Immediate and long-term efforts are needed from both the central and state governments to safeguard India’s groundwater resources and ensure agricultural sustainability for future generations.
