Delhi water crisis: Govt report reveals national capital has extracted 99% groundwater

Delhi's net annual groundwater recharge in 2023 was measured at 0.38 billion cubic meters (bcm), with only 0.34 bcm available for extraction.

Amidst a scorching heatwave, the water crisis has exacerbated the challenges faced by Delhi's residents. And the current situation was worsened by a staggering report by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), which revealed that 99 percent of national capital's net annual groundwater has been extracted.

The report, as quoted by The Economic Times, stated that Delhi's net annual groundwater recharge in 2023 was measured at 0.38 billion cubic meters (bcm), with only 0.34 bcm available for extraction.

The report underscores a worrisome trend: despite reduced groundwater recharge, Delhi witnessed an increase in extraction, rising from 98.16 percent in 2022 to 99.13 percent in 2023. This disparity suggests ongoing challenges in sustaining groundwater levels across the city, ET reported.

"Even though water is the most frequently occurring substance on earth, lack of safe drinking water is more prominent in the developing countries. Due to increasing world population, extraction of groundwater is also increasing for irrigations, industries, municipalities and urban and rural households’ day by day. During dry season extensive withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation purpose is lowering the water table in the aquifer and also changing the chemical composition of water," the government report noted.

It also stated that relatively high values of Chloride (>1000 mg/L) are observed in the State of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu etc. affected by high chloride water (>1000 mg/L) and these areas are water quality hot spots from high chloride point of view.

ET also quoted the report saying that it identifies an uptick in urban areas classified as 'safe' in terms of groundwater levels. In 2023, 15 percent of Delhi's assessment units achieved this status, up from 12 percent in the previous year. However, the area categorized as 'critical' expanded significantly, encompassing 35 percent of Delhi in 2023 compared to 21 percent in 2022.

The government report has also recommended some exercises to combat shortage of water. These include mandating rainwater harvesting in water-stressed areas, enhancing the use of treated water, and launching widespread awareness campaigns. Educational initiatives targeting students and training programs for water sector personnel are also recommended, ET noted.

Earlier on June 19, Delhi Water Minister Atishi has made a bold move by writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerning the worsening water crisis in the national capital. She has threatened to undertake an indefinite strike starting June 21 if the issue remains unresolved within a few days.

At a press conference, Atishi highlighted that Delhi has been grappling with a severe water shortage due to Haryana's failure to release the capital's share of water. She revealed that only 513 MGD of water was sent by Haryana, as opposed to the required 613 MGD, affecting over 28 lakh people.