A groundbreaking hydrology model based study has established a direct link between rapid urbanisation and alarming decline in groundwater reserves across five Indian states. Published in the Hydrogeology Journal the research titled Detection and Socio-economic Attribution of Groundwater Depletion in India presents a stark warning about the scale of groundwater loss particularly in northern and northwestern India.
According to the study led by Gautam Kunwar from the University of Texas Austin, India has lost approximately 64.6 billion cubic metres of groundwater over the past two decades. While irrigation remains a key driver of depletion, the study highlights that urbanisation and industrialisation are equally responsible for falling groundwater levels a factor that has often been overlooked in previous research.
Punjab and Haryana Face the Worst Groundwater Crisis
The study identifies five groundwater depletion hotspots:
Hotspot I: Punjab and Haryana
Hotspot II: Uttar Pradesh
Hotspot III: West Bengal
Hotspot IV: Chhattisgarh
Hotspot V: Kerala
Punjab and Haryana have emerged as the worst-affected states.While agriculture is often blamed urban centres like Faridabad and Gurgaon where agriculture is minimal have suffered severe groundwater depletion since 2012.
Between 2001 and 2011 urbanisation in Punjab and Haryana grew by 10 percentage points industrial activity surged. This period coincided with a 4% drop in net annual groundwater availability between 2004-05 and 2018-19, even though rainfall levels remained stable.
Urban and Industrial Expansion Drive Groundwater Decline in Other Hotspots
The study also sheds light on alarming groundwater depletion in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala.
- Uttar Pradesh (Hotspot II): Between 2004 and 2020, irrigation-related groundwater demand dropped by 8%, but industrial and domestic consumption soared by 38%, leading to a 4% reduction in net annual groundwater availability.
- West Bengal (Hotspot III): Groundwater demand for irrigation showed minimal growth (0.09%), but domestic and industrial consumption surged by 24%, resulting in a 3% decline in net groundwater availability.
- Chhattisgarh (Hotspot IV): A combination of rising irrigation, domestic, and industrial usage has contributed to groundwater depletion.
- Kerala (Hotspot V): Despite being a coastal state with significant rainfall, Kerala has recorded the sharpest groundwater decline (17%) among the five hotspots. Between 2004 and 2020, groundwater demand for irrigation dropped by 36%, but domestic and industrial use rose by 34%, exacerbating the crisis.
Urgent Need for Groundwater Recharge Strategies
The study underscores the pressing need for groundwater recharge initiatives particularly in urban areas. Manabendra Saharia, assistant professor at IIT Delhi and co-author of the study emphasized that while groundwater recharge projects are being implemented their impact remains limited due to poor urban planning.
Saharia stressed the importance of wetland restoration in cities as a critical solution to replenish urban groundwater reserves. Without immediate intervention, India’s growing urban centres could face severe water shortages, land subsidence, and long-term ecological consequences.