Other States - Uttar Pradesh   

Ground water level at an alarming stage

The State Government prepares an action plan

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh, which is going through an acute power crisis, is faced with yet another major problem-the ground water table in most of the places is going down to alarmingly low levels.

The State Ground Water Department (SGWD) has already sounded a SOS to stop the over-exploitation of the ground water for agriculture purposes in view of the drinking water scarcity looming large in the State.

Out of 820 development blocks in 70 districts of the state, the ground water level in over 450 blocks has been found to be in the category of the seriously affected, the scenario giving sleepless nights to the State authorities, the SGWD officials said here.

Cause of worry

The ground water level in as many as 140 blocks was `really' a cause of worry, the officials said. Of these in 100 blocks, the ground water level is in the State of either `critical' or `semi-critical'.

The U.P. Government, however, knows this alarming situation and has prepared an action plan to deal with it specially when the mercury is rising, the power supply is perpetually erratic and the prospects of the Monsoon are not encouraging either.

The ground water situation is worse in the Western part of the State where 70 per cent of the ground water had already been exploited and the indiscreet use of water pumps and other mechanism had left little scope for the drinking water resources.

Though, the network of canals is existent in the region and other areas as well but the over dependence on the ground water sources has depleted the ground water table to an abysmally low level.

The officials said while the ground water is used for irrigation and drinking water, the large share of agriculture exploitation leaves little margin of usage for drinking water.

The wells, artificial ponds and natural lakes are being dried up and the hand pumps become non-functional due to low water level in most parts of the western U.P., the reports reaching here at the state headquarters said.

Even as the ground water status in the Western districts of Agra, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnore, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Hathras and Meerut is cause of concern, the position in central districts of Fatehpur, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Jhansi, Jalaun and Lakhimpur Kheri is no better. Simlar is the case with Eastern UP as well where the water level is going down considarably.

In a joint survey by Central Groundwater Department and the SGWD last year, the situation of ground water in 22 development blocks of 13 districts was found to be `over-exploited' and `critical', whereas the water level in 75 development blocks of 29 districts was 'semi-critical'.

In a worsened scenario this year, ground water level in 38 blocks was found to be 'over-exploited' and 'critical' while in 88 blocks, the level is in the category of 'semi-critical'.

The reports from Agra-Chambal have said that the water level in this belt has dipped as low as 60 feet.

Rain water

There are large tracts of land in the state where the crest of earth is hard which makes it difficult for rain water to seep in easily. So far 122 development blocks in 41 districts have been identified where special effort would be mounted to preserve rain water so than it could enter the crest.

Wells, ponds and small dams to check the flow of water are required to ensure that the rain water seeps inside, according to a study.

UP government, however, plans to launch water recharge projects and rain harvesting techniques to minimise the loss but it required money and huge man power.

The SGWD is being reorganised for this purpose and the departmental officials are being planned to be posted in all 70 districts to create an awareness among the rural folks and the farmers.

UNi

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

More votes mean more fund, SP tells voters
Second Principal Secretary appointed for Uttar Pradesh Assembly
Ground water level at an alarming stage
Heat wave claims three lives
Newly elected U.P. Council members to take oath on May 9

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu