Date: 25/04/2023

Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution, and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Key Phrases: National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC), a network of groundwater sensors, Central Groundwater Board, Central Ground Water Authority, contamination, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Improved groundwater management.

Why in News?

• The Jal Shakti Ministry is working on a plan to deploy a vast network of groundwater sensors that will continuously measure the quality and contamination levels of groundwater in India.
• The sensors will relay information down to the taluk level and be available for monitoring by the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC).

Current Monitoring System and its Limitations:

• The Central Groundwater Board currently relies on a network of around 26,000 groundwater observation wells that require manual measurement by technicians a few times a year.
• The information is communicated via reports from the Central Groundwater Board.
• This system has limitations as it only provides a snapshot of the groundwater levels and quality at a given time.

Digital Water Level Recorders:

• Under the new initiative, around 16,000-17,000 digital water level recorders will be connected to piezometers in the wells.
• Piezometers measure groundwater levels, and recorders digitally transmit the information.
• The Central Ground Water Authority (constituted under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986) aims to increase its network from the existing 26,000 to about 40,000 in the next three years.
• When combined with similar networks possessed by other institutions – State bodies, agriculture, and meteorology departments – India will have about 67,000 digitally recordable units to monitor groundwater dynamics.
• The network will provide high-resolution data and make groundwater visible much like air quality, and meteorological variables – air pressure, moisture, precipitation – are now.

Groundwater Extraction and Contamination in India:

• Reports suggest that 85% of rural India uses groundwater for drinking and domestic purposes, and in cities with a population of over 10 lakh, about 40% have seen water levels in monitored wells either stay stable or drop.
• Groundwater contamination in India is mostly "geogenic" (natural) and hasn't significantly changed over the years.
• However, nitrate contamination – a result of the use of nitrogenous fertilizers—has been observed.
• Sections of nearly 409 districts have been confirmed with fluoride contamination and parts of 209 districts have noted arsenic contamination.

Potential Benefits of the Groundwater Sensor Network:

• Continuous monitoring of groundwater levels:
  • The new initiative will provide continuous information on groundwater levels, which will be helpful in predicting future levels, estimating extraction potential, and determining recharge potential.
• Improved groundwater management policies:
  • The availability of continuous and up-to-date information on groundwater levels and quality can help policymakers make informed decisions on groundwater management policies.
  • The Jal Shakti Ministry can provide updated advisories that can influence groundwater extraction policies by states.
• Improved agricultural practices:
  • The Jal Shakti Ministry aims to provide groundwater forecasts to farmers that would be useful for sowing, and updated advisories that can influence groundwater extraction policies by States.
  • Except for information on water flow governed by international treaties, most of this information will be publicly accessible.
  • The continuous measurement of groundwater quality would benefit farmers and enable policymakers to take decisions that can help conserve and replenish groundwater resources.
• Better understanding of groundwater dynamics:
  • The continuous monitoring of groundwater levels can help understand the complex dynamics of groundwater and the factors that affect it, such as land use changes, climate change, and recharge potential.
• Public access to groundwater information:
  • The availability of groundwater data in a centralized network such as the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) can make groundwater visible much like air quality, and meteorological variables.
  • Except for information on water flow governed by international treaties, most of this information will be publicly accessible.
• Identification of contaminated regions:
  • The continuous monitoring of groundwater quality can help identify contamination sources, assess the effectiveness of pollution mitigation efforts, and track the progress of remediation programs.
  • Those regions and States that are known to have groundwater contamination, for instance, coastal salinity or excessive depletion, will be monitored more intensely for action by states.
  • Continuous monitoring of groundwater quality can help take necessary actions for remediation.

Conclusion:

• The Jal Shakti Ministry's initiative to establish a network that will continuously measure groundwater quality is a significant step toward water conservation and management in India.
• The continuous measurement of groundwater levels and contamination would benefit farmers, policymakers, and the general public.
• The government's focus on groundwater management is timely, given the increasing demand for groundwater resources and the associated risks of depletion and contamination.
• With the deployment of this vast network of groundwater sensors, India is on its way to achieving sustainable groundwater management.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. “India is one of the countries with the highest groundwater depletion rates in the world.” In light of this, discuss the Jal Shakti Ministry's plan to deploy a vast network of groundwater sensors and its potential benefits in ensuring sustainable groundwater management.