Groundwater Management in India: Problems and Perspectives

Groundwater, which occurs beneath the surface of the land, filling the pore spaces of rocks called aquifers, plays a great role in the human lives as it constitutes the major portion of the world’s drinking water. Groundwater is heavily relied upon for other domestic purposes, agriculture and industrial uses also. Indiscriminate and unplanned over-extraction and use of groundwater has led to groundwater depletion and pollution and the groundwater reserve all over is under an intense pressure. This paper highlights the evolution and recognition of right to water in India and in the international framework. It traces the evolution of statutes in relation to the control of groundwater resources, starting from the Colonial era, traversing through the latest legislative attempts initiated for the conservation of groundwater in India. In order to address the issues related to the use of groundwater and to comprehensively identify strategies for management of the same in the best way, there is a need for coordinated efforts by the stakeholders including the government, industries, and agriculturists and so on. Immediate and stringent actions are required to ensure sustainable utilisation of this resource so that it can be preserved for the generations to come. The paper concludes by giving suggestions and recommendation for the enhancement of the legal regime for the effective preservation and maximum utilisation of the groundwater resources.