Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) is a Central Sector Scheme that aims to promote sustainable ground water management. With a budget of Rs. 6000 crore, the scheme is overseen by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Government of India and the World Bank equally fund the scheme on a 50:50 basis, with the entire World Bank’s loan component and central assistance being forwarded to States as grants.
ATAL JAL was reviewed at the 5th meeting of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC), where states were urged to incorporate Water Security Plans (WSPs) into Gram Panchayat Development Plans to uphold the sustainability of the scheme even upon completion. ATAL JAL’s main focus areas include Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh where panchayat led groundwater management and behavioral change are promoted.
Current State of Groundwater Depletion in India
India is currently grappling with a severe groundwater depletion crisis. Groundwater serves as the primary source of potable water and its depletion has been largely attributed to over-extraction for irrigation, urbanization, and climate change. India extracts more groundwater than the United States and China combined, with approximately 70% of its total water usage sourced from groundwater. However, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) estimates that about 25% of total groundwater extraction in the country is unsustainable, urging for sustainable water management practices.
Main Causes of Groundwater Depletion
Irrigation accounts for almost 80% of total water use in India with groundwater being the primary source, thus leading to constant depletion. Climate change has also exacerbated groundwater depletion through rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns which alter the recharge rates of Groundwater Aquifers. Poor water management and decrease in natural recharge due to deforestation are other contributing factors.
Implications of Groundwater Depletion
The consequences of groundwater depletion include water scarcity, land subsidence, environmental degradation, and economic impacts. Water scarcity leads to conflicts over resources, and could severely affect the country’s food and water security. Land subsidence, which is the sinking or settling of land when groundwater is extracted, can damage infrastructure and heighten flood risks. Groundwater depletion also harms the environment by causing saltwater intrusion in coastal areas, contaminating freshwater resources, and striking the economy by reducing agricultural output and escalating costs for water treatment.
Efforts towards Groundwater Conservation
Several initiatives have been launched by the government to conserve groundwater such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan- Catch the Rain Campaign, Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme, and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). A way forward can be encompassing comprehensive and sustainable water management strategies which include local community engagement, investments in water infrastructure, setting up robust monitoring frameworks, and promotion of responsible groundwater management.
Previous Year Questions from UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the 2020 Civil Services Examination, the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and measures to improve water storage and irrigation system under a depleting scenario were asked.
