Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Extractable groundwater resources have declined by around 800 crore cubic metres, i.e., 8 lakh crore litres, in the past ten years in Assam, and 1,100 crore cubic metres in the entire Northeast. This makes it amply clear that Assam is heading for an unprecedented scarcity of extractable groundwater.
The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has disclosed this alarming data in its reply to a query in the parliament yesterday. According to the reply from the Ministry, Assam had 2800 crore cubic metres of extractable groundwater resources in 2013. However, extractable groundwater resources declined to 2000 crore cubic metres in 2023. The report of the ministry further said that extractable groundwater resources in the entire Northeast were 4,000 crore cubic metres in 2013 that declined to 2,900 crore cubic metres in 2023.
The report said that the central government is cognizant of the importance of groundwater resources in the country, including the northeastern region. However, water being a state subject, sustainable development and management of groundwater resources are primarily the responsibility of the state governments. The central government can only facilitate the efforts of the state governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects.
According to sources, Guwahati is the worst affected in Assam in groundwater depletion that has already reached a semi-critical stage due to rampant extractions.
Depletion of groundwater resources started gradually in Guwahati and other urban areas over the years, and rapid urbanisation and population growth in recent times have mutually contributed to the depletion.
According to sources, there are standing rules for households, builders, commercial apartments, industrial areas, etc., for conservation of rainwater harvesting and recharging, etc. There is also a rule that 10-15 percent of paved areas in a complex must be covered with grass so as to let rainwater percolate down.
According to sources, the failure on the part of authorities concerned in supplying potable water to the residents has led to rampant extraction of groundwater by builders, households, apartments, industries, and others, causing a drastic fall in the groundwater resources. The extraction of groundwater for selling water to the public in Guwahati has also aggravated the situation. This practice is spreading to other urban areas in the state.
Of late, the central government has launched a portal, Bhu Neer, so as to bring transparency to groundwater withdrawal permits across the country.
Rules and regulations are there to curb excess and unauthorized extraction of groundwater. However, the authorities concerned seldom execute the rules, pushing the state to this critical stage.
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