At this rate, India will be living on imported water by 2050

Thanks to the rapidly disappearing groundwater stock, India might have to import drinking water by 2050. If the situation is not controlled, 2050 would see only 3,120 litres per day a person by then, which is nothing as compared to the requirements of the country.

As of now, this level is down to 5,120 litres, which is about 35% of the 14,180 litres that we had in 1951. In 1991, the records show that, the level was less than half of the 1951 figures.

Figures from a Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) study warn that the level would be further reduced to 22% by 2050.
Experts say that the depleting groundwater stock indicates vanishing rainwater harvesting with ponds, lakes and wells, poor awareness, and reduced green cover.

A CGWB master plan to artificially recharge groundwater said that "Rapid development and use of groundwater resources for varied purposes has contributed, though, in expansion of irrigated agriculture, overall economic development and in improving the quality of life in urban India, the groundwater, which is the source for more than 85 per cent of rural domestic water requirements, 50 per cent of urban water requirements and over 50 per cent of irrigation requirements of the country, is depleting fast ."

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