Review on Sustainable Groundwater Development and Management Strategies Associated with the Largest Alluvial Multi-aquifer Systems of Indo-Gangetic Basin in India

Abstract

AbstractDemand for groundwater for various uses is increasing rapidly due to accelerated growth of population, industrialization, irrigation, and urbanization. Availability of limited surface water resources is the reason for ever-increasing demand for groundwater. The diminishing quantity of replenishable groundwater resources in the unconfined, as well as confined aquifers, is facilitating the depletion of groundwater table in the Indo-Gangetic Basin (IGB). Hence, the assessment of the availability of groundwater resources is of immense importance to develop a sustainable management plan. The IGB covers an area of 1,182,689 km2 which forms the single largest groundwater reservoir with prolific multi-aquifer systems. The basin stretches over the northern zone from west to east below the extra-peninsular region of India. The tube wells tapping deeper confined aquifers have potential yields ranging between 25 and 50 Liters per second (lps) at economic drawdown. The study reveals that a total of about 1750.92 BCM of groundwater resources are available in the alluvial area of 466,007 km2. of IGB, of which around >91% is fresh and around 9% is brackish/saline. In 2002, arsenic in groundwater in the IGB was first detected beyond the permissible limit (>50 µg/l). But, around two decades ago arsenic menace was identified in the downstream area of IGB in the Bengal Basin and in the belt of Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra (GMB) River system. The severity of arsenic hazards in the Bengal Basin is considered one of the drastic health hazards. Groundwater Estimation Committee (GEC), 2015 methodology report of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) indicates that the net annual groundwater availability of IGB is 180.38 billion cubic meters (BCM) and annual groundwater draft for domestic, industries, and irrigation uses amounts to 140.77 BCM. The stage of groundwater development is recorded as the minimum (23%) in Jharkhand state, whereas the maximum (149%) is in Punjab state. The excess exploitation and occurrence of high arsenic in shallow aquifers pose a threat to the sustainable management of groundwater resources in the IGB.KeywordsIndo-Gangetic BasinReplenishable groundwater assessmentArsenic contaminationSustainable management