SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN RAJASTHAN: EVIDENCE FROM DISTRICT-LEVEL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The major source of freshwater in Rajasthan is ground water, being a state with arid or semi-arid climatic conditions, high variability in rain-fall and low surface water. The growing reliance on groundwater as the source of irrigation, domestic and industry has resulted in massive depletion of aquifers within the state. The current research paper analyses groundwater recharge, extraction, and variability in rainfall in Rajasthan in the framework of a district-based analytical procedure, and aims to evaluate groundwater stress and discuss the avenues of sustainable groundwater management. The official sources of secondary data on rainfall, groundwater recharge, extractable resources, and sector-wise groundwater extraction were used to gather data on the period till March 2023, such as the Central Ground Water Board and the Government of Rajasthan. As the analysis shows, although periodically the precipitation is above the normal level and large amounts of monsoon-driven recharge are observed, the total stage of groundwater extraction in Rajasthan is in the field of excess and, in such a manner, most of the districts and assessment units are over-exploited or critical. The most prevalent cause of groundwater depletion is irrigation, whereas the stress is comparably less in the areas of irrigation via canals. There are notable spatial differences, as western and central districts have been considerably over-extracted, and selected areas of the southern Rajasthan have a relatively favourable recharge situation. The paper emphasises the inadequacy of availability and use of groundwater and the necessity of district-based management approaches, higher irrigation efficiency, artificial recharge, and better groundwater control. The results are empirical data to endorse policy interventions to guarantee the sustainability of groundwater and water security in Rajasthan in the long term.