GROUNDWATER

Importance of groundwater
The importance of groundwater for the existence of human society cannot be
overemphasized. Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in both urban
and rural India. Besides, it is an important source of water for the agricultural and the
industrial sector. Water utilization projections for 2000 put the groundwater usage at
about 50%. Being an important and integral part of the hydrological cycle, its
availability depends on the rainfall and recharge conditions. Till recently it had been
considered a dependable source of uncontaminated water.
The National Water Policy (1987) states that water is a prime natural resource, basic
human need, and precious national asset. It gives special attention to drinking water
for both humans and animals over its other uses. The policy calls for controls on the
exploitation of groundwater through regulation and an integrated and coordinated
development of surface- and ground-water. The central government has identified
strategies for meeting drinking water needs and micro-watershed management and
conducted pilot projects in different regions in the country. Even so, India is facing a
freshwater crisis.
Objectives
 To ensure regulated exploitation and optimum & judicious use of ground resources.
 To initiate National programme of aquifer mapping and aquifer-based management in the state in a
planned way for overall ground water management.
 To implement ground water recharge programme on a large scale in an integrated manner and to bring
over-exploited/critical blocks into safe category in a time bound manner.
 To effectively implement conjunctive use of surface water and ground water.
 To promote efficient methods of water use in the stressed areas.
 To give priority to the river basin/watershed approach in ground water management planning and
conservation.
 To identify ground water polluted areas in order to ensure safe drinking water supplies.
 To implement ground water conservation and recharging programmes by the concerned departments
through participatory management approach in a co-ordinated and integrated manner.

 To make provisions of effective legal structures for ground water management.

Regulations:
India[edit]
In India, groundwater regulation is controlled and maintained by the central government and four
organizations; 1) Central Water Commission, 2) Central Ground Water, 3) Central Ground Water
Authority, 4) Central Pollution Control Board.[29]
Laws and Regulations regarding India's Groundwater:

 In 2011, the Indian Government created a Model Bill for Groundwater Management; this
model selects which state governments can enforce their laws on groundwater usage and
regulation.
 The Indian Government created a National Water Framework Bill in 2013. This bill ensures
that India's groundwater is a public resource, and is not to be exploited by companies
through privatization of water. The National Water Framework Bill allows for everyone to
access clean drinking water, of the right to clean drinking water under Article 21 of 'Right to
Life' in India's Constitution. The bill indicates a want for the states of India to have full control
of groundwater contained in aquifers. So far Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, West
Bengal, Telangana, Maharashtra, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar
Haveli are the only ones using this bill.[29]
 Section 7(g) of the Easement Act, 1882 states that every landowner has the right to collect
within his limits, all water under the land and on its surface which does not pass in a defined
channel.
 The 1882 Easement Act gives landowners priority over surface and groundwater that is on
their land and allows them to give or take as much as they want as long as the water is on
their land. This act prevents the government from enforcing regulations of groundwater,
allowing many landowners to privatize their groundwater instead accessing it in community
areas.[29]