Groundwater Depletion Crisis: Northwest India Faces Critical Threat to Agricultural Future

 

A study titled “Interconnected Disaster Risks Report 2023” warns that certain regions in the Indo-Gangetic basin have already surpassed the critical point for groundwater depletion, with the northwest of India, including Punjab and Haryana, predicted to face critically low groundwater availability by 2025. Groundwater plays a crucial role in mitigating agricultural losses during dry periods, and the worsening situation is attributed to changes in above-ground water inventories. Agriculture, responsible for approximately 70% of groundwater withdrawals in India, is set to bear the brunt of the impending crisis.

The study raises a global alarm, indicating that over half of the world’s largest aquifers are depleting faster than they can naturally replenish, reaching a tipping point. India has now overtaken China and the United States as the world’s top consumer of groundwater. Given that the northwest region is a major contributor to India’s wheat and rice production, the potential severity of the crisis looms large.

A recent UN report adds to concerns about India’s groundwater depletion crisis, posing a significant threat to the nation’s agricultural foundation. Jack O’Connor, the principal author of the report, emphasizes the need for drastic adjustments and actions to avert this impending disaster. The situation underscores the critical importance of effective groundwater management in India to safeguard its agricultural future.