Page 2 - Groundwater

National Green Tribunal directs sealing of illegal borewells in Noida

The National Green Tribunal has directed the authorities to seal all illegal commercial borewells in Noida. The tribunal has also directed the builders or project proponents to pay interim compensation -- at least 0.5% of their project cost. The green panel was hearing a petition regarding the illegal extraction of groundwater by 40 builders in Noida. The petition alleged that the authorities concerned had failed to prevent illegal commercial extraction of groundwater, resulting in its depletion. A bench of Chairperson AK Goel said the unregulated extraction of groundwater was detrimental to the environment and violated directions of the Supreme Court. The bench, also comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, said regulation on groundwater extraction was necessary for conservation and to ensure adequate replenishment. The bench noted that according to the report of a joint committee comprising the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Uttar Pradesh

India's groundwater extraction stage at 60% in 2022, says report

In 2022, around 87 per cent of the total annual ground water extracted that is around 208.49 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) was for irrigation which in 2020 was around 89 per cent

High uranium concentration in groundwater in Bihar worries authorities

The high concentration of uranium in groundwater in certain districts in Bihar has left the authorities worried

Five states extract almost 50% of groundwater, shows Govt data

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala account for 49 per cent of the overall extraction of groundwater in the entire country

Sinking city

Danger of land subsidence is increasing in NCR

From 58% to 63%, India pumped more groundwater between 2004 and 2017

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on Tuesday pointed out that in the period between 2004 and 2017, the stage of extraction of ground water increased from 58 per cent to 63 per cent

Nature-based, people-centred solutions for water

The second in a series of weekly articles on the new National Water Policy

Mapping groundwater sources to aid in using it for drinking: Jitendra Singh

Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday CSIR is using the latest technology to map sources of groundwater in arid regions that will help use it for drinking

NGT slams Centre over inadequate measures to prevent wastage of groundwater

"Apart from writing a letter, there has to be specific time-bound action plans and monitoring which should include coercive measures for enforcement," the bench said

Scientists identify new potential groundwater 'arsenic hotspots' in India

Scientists have found an increased probability of high arsenic levels in well waters in parts of India where previously arsenic hazard was generally not considered to be a major concern

Best of BS Opinion: A fiscal road map, conserving groundwater, and more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

Conserving groundwater

Rules must contain wasteful use in agriculture

Unauthorised groundwater extraction for commercial use is criminal: NGT

There is no absolute right to extract groundwater for commercial purpose and doing so without authorisation is a criminal offence, the NGT said

2.5 mn got piped-water connections during Covid: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

In a Q&A, Jal Shakti Minister says he is confident the pandemic will not delay the targets under the Har Ghar Jal initiative or lead to any fund crunch

PM Modi launches Atal Bhujal Yojana, aims to improve groundwater management

Urging farmers to switch over to crops that use less water, he exhorted people not to waste the precious natural resource in daily household needs

This conservationist sets legal, social examples to save Delhi's wetlands

Arya filed a case against against the Noida Authority for causing the denudation and environmental distress

22% groundwater has either dried up or in critical category: Jal Sakti Min

The government has also started the work of mapping aquifer and by next March

We have severely underinvested in waste water treatment: Veena Srinivasan

According to a NITI report, 21 cities in India will run out of groundwater which will affect 100 million people. Veena Srinivasan, a water expert, tells us what is India's problem with regard to water

Water needs trans-disciplinary governance

Although groundwater now provides more than two-thirds of India's water, the more it has grown in significance, the weaker groundwater departments have become at the Centre and in the states

Mumbai: FIR registered against six persons for theft of groundwater

Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against 6 persons in Azad Maidan police station for allegedly stealing groundwater amounting to more than Rs 70 cr over the past several years