Ground water level up 67% in Gujarat

But per capita fresh water availability is almost 40% less in Gujarat compared to the national average

With the rise in use of Narmada canal, ground water level has increased by 67 per cent in Gujarat as on May 2014 when compared with the 2004-13 period, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) data revealed.

The comparative period of May 2014 and 2004-13 showed ground water level fluctuations of over four metres fall and rise of 18.34 metres in most of the districts.

At the conference on 'Issues Related to Ground Water in Gujarat' organized by CGWB in Ahmedabad, experts and government officials put emphasis on proper water distribution management to address the challenges.

"A comparison of the water level of the May 2014 with the average water level for May for the last one decade (2003-2013) revealed that there is a rise of 67 per cent of the wells monitored," said Anoop Nagar, regional director west central region of CGWB.

Rise and fall is mostly in the range of zero to two meters. Over 4 meters fall has been observed in most of the districts including Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, Vadodara, Amreli, Rajkot and Kutch.

Per capita fresh water availability is almost 40 per cent less in Gujarat compared to the national average. While fresh water availability is 1545 cubic meter per capita per person in India, it is just 945 cubic meter in Gujarat.

Mahesh Singh, member secretary at Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) said: "Erratic rainfall and over exploitation of the ground water sources for irrigation purpose has resulted in dehydration of upper and middle aquifers."

He said that 71 per cent of the precipitation falls over South Gujarat, 17 per cent over Saurashtra, 10 per cent over North Gujarat and only 2 per cent over Kutch area. Out of total 185 notified rivers, only eight are perennial and all are located in South Gujarat.

Currently out of total water availability in Gujarat about 80 per cent goes to irrigation, 10 per cent for domestic and rest 10 per cent consume by industries.

R K Suryawanshi, chief engineer of Narmada Tapi basin organisation at Central Water Commission said: "However, because of Narmada river canal, use of ground water has declined. With this GWSSB is giving training to farmers and villagers for use and storage of water in the state."