December 21, 2017
Tapas Mondal speaks on groundwater management
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Sir, over the years there has been a tremendous increase in the pressure on groundwater reserves in India. The rate at which this groundwater is naturally recharged is much lesser than the rate at which humans are extracting it. NASA has declared the Indus Basin as the second most overstressed aquifer in the world.
Sir, with the impact of climate change now being felt on the monsoon pattern, the dependence of farmers on groundwater will increase. With a continuing decrease in groundwater levels, the poorest farmers are going to be the worst hit due to their inability to meet expensive pumping costs. Researchers anticipate that annual crop production may decrease by almost 25% if the situation remains unchecked.
Sir, research has pointed out that India is the largest extractor of groundwater. It extracts 25% of the groundwater extracted globally and more than the next two countries in the list, China and the USA, combined. There is also the worrying issue of groundwater being contaminated with arsenic and other chemicals.
Sir, we feel that there is an urgent need to address this problem. India needs to take groundwater management more seriously. Focus must be had on achieving efficiency in irrigation and growing crops which are not water-intensive in areas facing this crisis. The government also needs to support farmers who are impacted by helping them move to these alternatives so that their reliance on groundwater may reduce.
