Number of districts where groundwater fell on the rise

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24

The Haryana Government claims to have taken steps for groundwater recharging, but details of last three years present a picture of contrast.

The pre- and post-monsoon figures show that the number of districts, where groundwater has been falling, is rising every year.

The comparison of pre- and post monsoon shows that In 2013, 14 districts had witnessed a slight improvement in the water table. In Ambala, the groundwater level had improved from 10.70 m before monsoon to 9.58 m after the monsoon; in Faridabad, it had improved from 16.25 m to 15.91 m; and, in Jhajjar, from 4.57 m to 3.58 m.

There were minor improvements in the 14 districts, while the remaining seven districts witnessed a fall in groundwater. The overall groundwater in the state had improved from 17.16 m to 16.98 m.

In 2014, 11 districts had witnessed improvement in water table, while the number of districts, where groundwater had fell further, increased to 10.

Ambala had witnessed an improvement from 10.89 m during pre-monsoon to 9.95 m post-monsoon and, in Bhiwani, the level had risen from 22.4 m to 22.14 m. Hisar’s water level had remained at 7.36 m irrespective of monsoon showers. The overall groundwater level had registered a fall from 17.37 m to 17.45 m.

In 2015, the number of districts showing improvement had fallen to seven, while the remaining 14 districts had witnessed a fall in groundwater level.

The water table in Sonepat had remained at 8.36 m before and after rains. The overall groundwater had witnessed a mere 0.2 per cent improvement from 17.75 m to 17.73 m.

Bhupinder Singh, Director (Agriculture) could not be contacted, as he was busy in a meeting. RS Verma, Special Sectary (Irrigation and Water Resources) was not available in his office and the person attending the phone of Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar said that the minister was busy in a meeting.

The number of districts showing improvement in water level has been decreasing every year in spite of the construction of 682 points for rainwater harvesting across the state.

In 2005-06, there were 183 recharging points. The number has been increasing every year, but groundwater has not been recharged, raising questions about the functioning of these points.

The Agriculture Department has constructed 2,184 wells in the state to observe groundwater. The authorities have been observing fluctuation in groundwater.