Tamil Nadu   

Groundwater depletion severe in Western region

Tirupur: The groundwater table depletion is severest in the Western districts of the state owing to over exploitation primarily for irrigation purposes, according to Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) regional director D.S.C. Thambi. “As a mitigation measure, we are now promoting artificial recharging and water management through projects like dug well recharge scheme and farm practices like System of Rice Intensification all holding to the principle of ‘more crop for every drop,” he told The Hindu here. According to him, recharging of groundwater table in the western districts has always been a challenging task considering the presence of hard rock beds in the region.

142 blocks

He said that block wise, the groundwater level in 142 out of the 385 blocks in the state were presently classified as ‘over exploited' (usage exceeding recharge by 100 per cent) following indiscriminate drawing from deeper aquifers.

Of the rest, the groundwater level is in ‘critical state' (usage exceeding recharge by 90 per cent to 100 per cent) in 33 blocks, ‘semi-critical' (usage exceeding recharge by 70 per cent) in 56 blocks, ‘saline' in eight blocks and ‘safe' in the other blocks.

In Tirupur district, the groundwater is in an over exploited condition in Avinashi block, critical in Gudimangalam, Palladam and Udumalpet blocks, semi-critical in Pongalur, Uthukuli and Madathukulam blocks, and termed safe in Tirupur, Dharapuram, Kangeyam, Vellakoil, Kundadam and Vellakoil blocks.

Mr. Thambi said that the Board is presently engaged in hydro-geological surveys to study the changes in the groundwater table on a more frequent basis. “The study is carried out randomly in 1,000 wells across the state four times a year,” he added.

Conservation

To promote water conservation, the Board had been targeting the youth population so as to ensure ‘safe' groundwater tables in the future.

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