Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/in-10-years-groundwater-level-in-maharashtra-fell-in-70-per-cent-of-monitored-wells-zeeshan-shaikh-4680621.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | In 10 years, groundwater level in Maharashtra fell in 70 per cent of monitored wells -Zeeshan Shaikh | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

In 10 years, groundwater level in Maharashtra fell in 70 per cent of monitored wells -Zeeshan Shaikh

-The Indian Express

The fourth Minor Irrigation census, conducted in 2006-07, said there were over 21.5 lakh wells and borewells across Maharashtra.

Mumbai:
The abundant monsoon this year may have brought cheer to the state, but long-term supply of water remains a cause for concern. Data from wells monitored by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Maharashtra has shown that water level has declined in 70 per cent of such wells. The pre-monsoon water level data for 1,487 wells selected from across the state, when compared with the decadal mean between 2006-2015, indicated a decline in ground water level in 70 per cent of the wells. The national average for this decline is around 66 per cent.

Ground water is primarily used for irrigation, drinking and industrial purposes. Due to growing urbanisation, industrialisation and population, ground water levels in various parts of the country are declining. The Central Ground Water Board, under the ministry of water resources, carries out ground-water monitoring four times a year through a network of observation wells in the country.

In Maharashtra, another problem that came to the fore was severe overextraction of water. The fourth Minor Irrigation census, conducted in 2006-07, said there were over 21.5 lakh wells and borewells across Maharashtra. The number of such wells as per the first census was around 5 lakh, suggesting a four-fold increase in a period of less than 30 years.

To tide over this problem, new rules were formulated under the Maharashtra Groundwater (Development and Management) Act 2009. The law has stringent provisions to check unregulated extraction of groundwater from areas where there is severe water scarcity.

“There is a serious problem in the implementation of this law. The severe drought in the state over the past year has accentuated the problem, as it is difficult to crack down on farmers who are already reeling under problems,” a senior state government official said.