The issue of groundwater depletion in India recently made headlines when the Ministry of Rural Development introduced the JALDOOT App and JALDOOT App e-brochure. This new development aims to tackle issues regarding water resource management, particularly in rural areas across the country.
Understanding the JALDOOT App
Developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, the JALDOOT app functions to capture accurate data on water levels in selected wells within a village. The app conveniently functions both online and offline, ensuring essential data capture even in areas with no internet connectivity. Data captured during non-connectivity gets stored on the mobile device and automatically synchronizes with the central server once the device attains internet access. The consistent data input from the Jaldoots integrates into the National Water Information Center (NWIC) database, a strategic move anticipated to benefit various stakeholders through data analysis and report generation.
The Significance of the JALDOOT App
The JALDOOT app offers an innovative solution to monitoring water tables across India. It collects essential data that contribute to the creation of comprehensive Gram Panchayat Development Plan and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Plans. Moreover, this application allows Gram Rojgar Sahyak to accurately measure the water level of a designated well twice annually – pre and post-monsoon seasons. Backed by robust information, panchayats can improve their planning strategies and decision-making processes.
India’s Groundwater Depletion Status
Statistics from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reveal India’s alarming rates of groundwater depletion. With approximately 230 billion metre cubes of groundwater drawn each year for agricultural irrigation, several regions across the nation face rapid groundwater depletion. About 89% of the extracted groundwater serves the irrigation sector, marking it as the highest user. It’s followed by domestic use at 9%, and industrial use at 2%. Groundwater also fulfills 50% of urban water requirements and 85% of rural domestic water necessities.
Causes of Groundwater Depletion
The Green Revolution significantly contributed to the current groundwater crisis by promoting the cultivation of water-intensive crops in drought-prone areas. This practice led to the over-extraction of groundwater resources, exacerbating the problem further. Industrial requirements, particularly water contamination due to pollution from various sources, also play a significant role in the depletion of groundwater resources. Moreover, inadequate regulation and federal issues also contribute to this issue, with water management falling primarily under the states’ jurisdiction often leading to mismanagement and over-utilization.
Initiatives to Combat Groundwater Depletion
Several programs and initiatives have been implemented to address the issue of groundwater depletion in India. These include Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development Component, and the ‘Mission Kakatiya’ initiative in Telangana.
Looking Ahead – Proposed Solutions
To mitigate the ongoing water crisis, several strategies such as artificial recharge of groundwater and installing local groundwater management plants have been suggested. These strategies will increase water infiltration and enable locals to understand the groundwater availability in their region, thus encouraging responsible and judicious water usage. As we move forward, innovative solutions like the JALDOOT app will prove increasingly crucial in managing and preserving our valuable water resources.
