
AFTER A decade of declining levels, India saw the stage of groundwater development, the ratio of annual groundwater extraction to the annual availability, reach 62 per cent in 2013. By 2017, this figure had worsened to 63.33 per cent. However, the most recent government assessment in 2023 shows improvement: the country's stage of groundwater development reached 59.26 per cent, with 73 per cent of assessment units now "safe" (a stage of groundwater development at 70 per cent or below). This is a marked improvement from 2017, when only 63 per cent of units fell within the safe category.
Experts warn that this apparent improvement might be a numbers game rather than a true reflection of on-ground recovery. They argue that a shift in groundwater assessment methodology introduced in 2017 has inflated the appearance of recovery. This revised methodology expanded the area considered in groundwater assessments and estimated more significant groundwater availability. Crucially, it also removed the requirement for on-ground verification of water levels, raising questions about the accuracy of the reported data.
This story is from the January 16, 2025 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 16, 2025 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

THE CIRCULARITY ARGUMENT
A circular economy can help India achieve its developmental aspirations while following the low-carbon pathway. It will also help address the challenges of waste management, pollution and overexploitation of natural resources. Industries are already innovating to reuse high-volume wastes and have shown that the transition can usher in both environmental and financial windfalls

Banking on flawed drug voluntary licences
The Medicines Patent Pool is pushing for more VLs, but its bad deal with Novartis on a cancer drug shows the pitfalls

Lasting solutions
For the first time, the UN has recognised the role of indigenous communities in tackling aridity. A repository of traditional knowledge India has the wherewithal to lead the way

IMD at 150
India's journey into modern weather forecasting took a decisive turn 150 years ago with the establishment of India Meteorological Department during the British rule. The agency has come a long way since then, shaping the way the country predicts and responds to its diverse climate challenges

Every drop counts
In drought-prone Marathwada region, 14 villages have managed to counter water shortage by budgeting the resource

Threat to survival
Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam faces ecological challenges as railway electrification and hydrocarbon exploration endanger its fragile biodiversity

'Migration is going to be a battlefield'
AMITAV GHOSH is one of the foremost chroniclers of our times. His literary sojourn includes writings on topics that range from languages to climate change to human lives. His latest book, Wild Fictions, brings some of his works on these issues under one title. In a conversation with RAJAT GHAI, Ghosh shares his views on the future of human movement. Excerpts:

Face of future
California wildfires confirm forest fires are intensifying in a hotter world, emitting substantial amounts of greenhouse gases and reinforcing global warming

Friends of the forest
Residents of 30 villages in Uttarakhand establish a model for public participation in saving forests from wildfires

Climate-crazy playbook
Just hours after his second (and final) term began on January 20, US President Donald Trump unleashed 46 presidential actions. Several of these are centred on the US' climate commitments, energy transition, migration and trade policies, and are likely to have negative global implications