1. GROUND WATER SCENARIO WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RAJASTHAN
P.K. PARCHURE
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD
WESTERN REGION, JAIPUR

2. Significance of ground water resources
Play vital role in sustaining the livelihoods
Act as primary buffer against drought
Play pivotal role in ensuring the food security at all levels
Play important role in meeting the water requirements of agriculture, industrial and domestic sectors in India

3. Consumption of ground water resources in India
In India ground water meets
>85 percent of India’s rural domestic water requirements
50 percent of its urban water requirements
>50 percent of its irrigation requirements
As per the United Nations World Water Development Report (2012) brought out by UNESCO, India is the largest user of ground water in the world.

4. Availability and withdrawal of ground water resources in India
Ground water resources reassessed as on 2009
Total annually replenishable resource : 431 bcm
Net annual ground water availability: 396 bcm
Annual ground water withdrawal : 243 bcm
Stage of ground water development : 61%
Categorization of assessment units
Total No. of assessed units : 5842
No. of over-exploited units: 802
No. of critical units: 169
No. of semi-critical assessment units: 523

5. Rajasthan state – An overview
State: Largest state , >128 Countries
Area: 3,42,239 sq km. , 10.4% of country
Population: 5,64,73122 , 5.5% of country
Most arid and drought prone state
Limited water resources 1.15% of the country
Surface water resources very meager
Ground water resources highly depleted
> 50% of fluoride affected villages of the country
G.W. saline to highly saline in most western districts
Rapid Industrial growth - Urbanization

6. Rainfall Ranges from < 150 to > 1500 mm
Annual average: about 1100 mm
Gradually decreases from SE towards NW
Highly variable, irregular and erratic
Frequent droughts
Consecutive drought spells of 2 to 3 years common

8. Major
Aquifer
Systems

11. Rajasthan – Declining trend of ground water levels

14. Rajasthan – Quality of ground water
Saline in major part of western Rajasthan -- Potable ground water is found in areas covered by sandstone and limestone of Marwar Super group, Lathi formations in Jaisalmer and Fresh in the eastern part except in a few pockets of Bharatpur district where the ground water is brackish to saline. It is saline in Barmer district, in Tertiaries in parts of Bikaner, Nagaur, Churu, Barmer and Jaisalmer districts and localized pockets in Quaternaries
High fluoride in pockets in almost all the districts with varying intensity
High nitrate and other constituents beyond permissible limits of drinking and irrigation also exists in some districts
Increased use of fertilizers, poor sewerage system in urban agglomerates and industrial pollution have further caused deterioration in the quality of ground water

16. Rajasthan- Ground water availability vis-à-vis withdrawal
As per ground water resource assessment carried out jointly by CGWB and State GWD as on 2009
Annually replenishable resource: bcm
Net annual availability : bcm
Annual ground water withdrawal: bcm
Stage of ground water withdrawal: 135%

20. Rajasthan- Ground water management challenges
Declining water level - Depleting ground water resources
Deteriorating ground water quality
Increasing demands of ground water to meet increased water demands for various purposes
Growing urbanization leading to growing water demands as well as reduction in natural recharge
Water logging in canal command areas
Industrial and Mining pollution

21. Regulation of ground water development
Central Ground Water Authority
Constituted under Section 3(3) of Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 vide Ministry of Environment & Forests’ notification dated and reconstituted under MOEF notification dated
Circulated list of Over-exploited, critical and semi-critical assessment units to the State Pollution Control Boards, BIS and Ministry of Environment & Forests - evaluates proposals for new industries/ projects falling in these areas based on site specific technical studies and issues NOC for withdrawal of ground water.
Notified 82 areas in the country for regulation of ground water development and management wherein installation of new ground water abstraction structures is not permitted without prior specific approval of the Authority/ Authorized officer.
Issued directions to all the Residential Group Housing Societies/ Institutions/Schools/ Hotels/ Industrial Establishments falling in over-exploited and critical areas (except in the water logged areas) in the country to adopt Roof Top Rain Water harvesting systems in their premises.

22. Regulation of ground water development …. Contd.
Central Ground Water Authority
Issued to all concerned for implementation of ground water recharge measures along all National Highways, State Highways and other major roads, along rail tracks by Indian Railways, in the Stadia and in Airports for Promoting Rain Water Harvesting/ adoption of artificial Recharge to Ground Water in the country (except in water logged areas)
Issued directions to Chief Secretaries in 12 States and Administrations in 2 Union Territories having Over-exploited blocks to take necessary measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water/ rain water harvesting
Directed large and medium Industries using ground water in the over exploited and critical areas in the country (except in the water logged areas) to take up water conservation measures including recharge of ground water/rain water harvesting and adopt practices of treatment, recycle and reuse of waste water in their premises
Issued directions to Chief Secretaries/ Administrators of all the States/ Union Territories and Ministry of Urban Development to take necessary action to adopt rain water harvesting/ artificial recharge on all the Government buildings

23. Regulation of ground water development …. Contd.
2323
Regulation of ground water development …. Contd.
Model Bill to regulate and control development of ground water – Salient features
Setting up of Ground Water Authority
Authority vested with powers to
Notify areas for regulation and control of ground water development and management
Identify areas worthy of artificial recharge, issue necessary guidelines for rain water harvesting and artificial recharge and give appropriate directions to concerned departments
May issue directives in urban areas falling in notified areas for construction of appropriate rain water harvesting structures in all residential, industrial and other premises having an area of 100 sq.m. or more

24. Regulation of ground water development …. Contd.
Model Bill to regulate and control development of ground water – Status of enactment
Enacted: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Tamilnadu and West Bengal
Initiated action: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Mizoram, Orissa, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh and Punjab
Feel it not necessary: Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh
Rajasthan – When??

25. Regulation of ground water development …. Contd.
Areas notified by Central Ground Water Authority in Rajasthan
S.No District No of Blocks
Notified
1. Ajmer 1
2. Alwar 1
3. Barmer 1
4. Churu 1
5. Jalore 5
6. Jaipur 7
7. Jhunjhunu 6
8. Jodhpur 4
9. Karauli 1
10. Nagaur 2
11. Sikar 2
Total 31

26. National Water Policy – Provisions with regard to ground water
Existing Policy (2002)
Periodical reassessment of ground water potential on a scientific basis taking into consideration the quality of water available and economic viability of its extraction
Regulation of exploitation of ground water resources so as to retain it within recharging possibilities and also to ensure social equity
Effective prevention of over-exploitation by central and state governments
Development and implementation of ground water recharge projects
Conjunctive use of surface and ground water should form an integral part of project implementation
Over-exploitation of ground water should be avoided especially near the coast to prevent ingress of sea water into sweet water aquifers

27. National Water Policy – Provisions with regard to ground water
Draft Revised Policy (2012)
Objective : To take cognizance of the existing situation, to propose framework for the system of laws and institutions and for a plan of action with a unified national perspective
Concerns expressed in the present scenario :
Large parts of the country are water stressed
Mismanagement of water resources has led to a critical situation in many parts of the country
Wide temporal and spatial variation in availability of water
Climate change may also lead to sea level rise
Access to safe water for drinking and other domestic needs still a problem in many areas
Encroachment of natural water bodies

28. National Water Policy – Provisions with regard to ground water ….Contd.
Draft Revised Policy (2012) – concerns expressed in the present scenario
Inadequate trained personnel for scientific planning
Widening gap between irrigation potential created and utilized
Ground water though part of hydrological cycle and a community resource, is still perceived as an individual property and is exploited inequitably and without any consideration to its sustainability leading to its over-exploitation in several areas
Growing pollution of water sources
Low public consciousness about the overall scarcity and economic value of water
Lack of adequate trained personnel for scientific planning
Absence of holistic and interdisciplinary approach at water related problems
No consultation with stakeholders by public agencies involved in water related decisions
Land use and land cover changes affecting availability and quality of water resources

29. National Water Policy – Provisions with regard to ground water ….Contd.
Draft Revised Policy (2012)
Strengthening of infrastructure in the water rich eastern and north-eastern states
Institutionalization and strengthening of community based water management
Enhancing capabilities of communities to adopt climate resilient technological options
Adaptation strategies including increasing water storage in various forms and better water management through adoption of compatible agricultural strategies, cropping patterns and improved water application methods and more water efficient industrial processes
Promoting stakeholder participation in land-soil-water management with scientific inputs from local scientific and academic institutions
Periodic assessment of availability of water resources
Augmenting utilizable water resources through direct use of rain water and avoidance of inadvertent evapotranspiration

30. National Water Policy – Provisions with regard to ground water ….Contd.
Draft Revised Policy (2012)
Participatory approach in aquifer mapping
Arresting declining ground water levels in OE areas through economizing water use, incentivizing efficient water use and encouraging community based management of aquifers
Integrated watershed management activities with ground water perspectives
Strict regulation of urban settlements, encroachments and any development activities in the protected upstream areas of reservoirs/ water bodies, key aquifer recharge areas etc.
Need to ensure that industrial effluents, local cess pools, residual fertilizers and chemicals etc. don’t reach the ground water

31. National Project on Aquifer Mapping and Management
CGWB has prepared hydrogeological maps on 1: 250,000 scale
National Programme for Preparation of Aquifer Maps being envisaged.
In first phase (12th & 13th Five Year Plan) it is proposed to cover priority areas (OE, Critical, Coastal, pollution prone areas) on 1:50,000 scale and selected high priority area on 1:10,000 scale
It is proposed to take up this activity with participation of State Governments , NGOs and local community
These maps would lead to Aquifer Management programme with participation of local community (NGOs, PRIs, Water User groups, etc).
The information generated would also be available to the administrators, planners and members of public

32. Thank You