73% wells see groundwater rise post monsoon: Govt

About 73 per cent of wells monitored across the country recorded a rise in groundwater levels in the 2025 post-monsoon period compared to the decadal mean between 2015-2024, the Government informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil said the annual assessment of dynamic groundwater resources, being conducted since 2022 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in coordination with the State Governments, shows that total groundwater recharge has increased from 432 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2017 to 448.52 BCM in 2025.

The minister added that the share of ‘safe’ assessment units has increased significantly from 62.6 per cent to 73.14 per cent, while the proportion of over-exploited units has declined from 17.2 per cent to 10.8 per cent over the same period, indicating improvement in groundwater status.

According to the data shared by the ministry, out of 13,875 wells analysed across States and Union territories, 10,164 showed a rise in water levels, while 3,662 recorded a decline, reflecting an overall improving trend at the national level.

“However, despite favourable conditions in the country as a whole, some pockets may be experiencing seasonal groundwater stress due to various factors like high population density, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, dependence on water-intensive crops, inefficient irrigation practices, and climate change,” the minister stated.

Providing State-specific details, the minister said that in Karnataka, out of 237 assessment units (taluks), 45 units (18.99 per cent) have been categorised as ‘over- exploited’, indicating that annual groundwater extraction exceeds the annual extractable groundwater resource.

Further, 11 assessment units (4.64 per cent) have been categorised as ‘critical’, 36 units (15.19 per cent) as ‘semi-critical’ and 145 units (61.18 per cent) are placed in the ‘safe’ category.

The minister said water is a state subject, and primary responsibility for groundwater management rests with State Governments, while it provides technical and financial assistance through various schemes.

Detailing the measures undertaken, the Government said under ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’, more than two crore water conservation and artificial recharge works have been taken up through convergence in the country so far, with around 17.62 lakh works in Karnataka (including 33,259 works in Bengaluru urban and 18,837 works in Bengaluru rural districts) and 4.97 lakh works in Chhattisgarh.

To further strengthen water conservation efforts, the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative, launched in 2024, aims to make rainwater harvesting a mass movement through community participation.

Under the initiative, more than 50 lakh rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures have been created nationwide, including around 2.52 lakh in Karnataka and 7.26 lakh in Chhattisgarh.

Patil said over 38,000 artificial recharge works have also been constructed and geo-tagged across the country through convergence with schemes such as MGNREGS and Finance Commission grants to improve the sustainability of drinking water sources.

He also pointed to ‘Mission Amrit Sarovar’, under which nearly 69,000 water bodies have been developed or rejuvenated nationwide, including 4,056 in Karnataka and 2,901 in Chhattisgarh.

Additionally, a master plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020) has been prepared and shared with States as a guide for implementing recharge structures, the minister said.