Why in the News?

The Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 was released by the Union Minister of Jal Shakti. Conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the report provides a scientific baseline for groundwater quality across India.

Annual Groundwater Quality Report, 2024: Key Highlights

Monitoring Scale

Data collected from 15,200 locations and 4,982 trend stations both before and after the monsoon.

Contamination Levels

Nitrate
- 20% of samples exceeded the safe limit of 45 mg/L.
- Hotspots include Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra (>40% of samples), Telangana (27.48%), Andhra Pradesh (23.5%), and Madhya Pradesh (22.58%).
- States such as Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland remain within safe limits.
Fluoride
- 9.04% of samples above permissible limits.
- Affected states: Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Arsenic
- Detected in Ganga-Brahmaputra floodplains (West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh).
- Linked to cancer and skin lesions.
Uranium
- 42% of Rajasthan and 30% of Punjab samples exceed 100 ppb.
- Over-exploited zones in Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh also show elevated levels, posing kidney damage risks.

Agricultural Suitability

SAR (Sodium Adsorption Ratio) & RSC (Residual Sodium Carbonate): 81% of samples suitable for irrigation; 100% suitability in North-Eastern states.
High Sodium: Elevated levels in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, risking soil degradation.
Salinity (as a measure of Electrical Conductivity (EC)): High in Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka.

Temporal Trends

Seasonal Improvements: Post-monsoon recharge improves EC (salinity) and fluoride levels.
Stable Nitrate since 2015 in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat.
Rising Nitrate (2017–2023) in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana.

Hotspots of Contamination

Nitrate:
- Rajasthan (Barmer, Jodhpur), Maharashtra (Wardha, Jalgaon), Andhra Pradesh (Palnadu), Tamil Nadu (Villupuram), Punjab (Bathinda).
Uranium:
- Over-exploited aquifers in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat.
Arsenic:
- Ganga-Brahmaputra floodplains in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar.

What are the key factors contributing to decline in Groundwater quality?

Groundwater quality declines due to:

Industrialization, with untreated waste introducing heavy metals and chemicals into aquifers, and agricultural practices, where excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides leads to nitrate contamination.
Urbanization worsens the problem through improper waste disposal, sewage leakage, and landfill contamination.
Over-extraction for agriculture and domestic use lowers water tables, exposing aquifers to pollutants like arsenic and uranium.
Climate change and poor livestock waste management further exacerbate contamination and reduce aquifer recharge.

Government Initiatives to conserve Groundwater

Jal Jeevan Mission – Groundwater Component (2023): Ensures source sustainability for rural water supply by focusing on groundwater recharge and sustainable extraction with local governance participation.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain (2021): A nationwide campaign promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, emphasizing the creation of water conservation structures.
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Program (Updated 2020): Maps groundwater aquifers to guide sustainable management, particularly in over-exploited areas.
Atal Bhujal Yojana (2019): Focuses on sustainable groundwater management through community participation in seven water-stressed states, with decentralized planning involving Gram Panchayats.

PYQ:

[2021] With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.

2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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