question_answer

The following newspaper report was published on 28th September, 2012. "Overexploitation, due to population concentration, has led to depletion of the groundwater and the recharge process is slow due to the type of soil in the region," said the Chairman, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). According to him, hard rock areas of south India are also severely affected but the recharge process was quicker in rocky areas. "Good rains over a five to seven year period can bring back water in aquifers," he said, adding that the issues of water and land were crucial to India's development. Do you feel that the Chairman, CGWB was right? If so, what steps should be taken to reduce the Overexploitation of groundwater resources without seriously affecting the region's development?            (5)  

Answer:

The Chairman, CGWB was correct that the groundwater had been overexploited and so depleted. To ensure it does not occur again, steps to be taken are (i) Digging of tube wells should not be allowed in areas where the groundwater level has gone down appreciably. Even in the case of existing tube wells in such areas, they should be given power only for limited periods to limit the use of groundwater. (ii) Alternative methods of irrigation like canals should be developed in areas with low levels of groundwater. (iii) Farmers in such areas should be persuaded to change their cropping pattern to items which require less water, or even to other allied professions like dairy farming, pisciculture etc.