Ground Water Resources Assessment

Quantification of ground water resources is one of the major input in planning ground water development and management, at the same time, it is one of the basic input for funding ground water development projects by financial institutions such as NABARD. The resource assessment and the categorisation of assessment units forms a basis for implementing various ground water management plans and programmes.

In order to standardize methodology for computation of ground water resources various special studies have been carried out in different hydrogeological conditions throughout the country. In this regard, Central Ground Water Board undertook water balance studies between 1974 and 1985 through 3 domestic and 9 bilateral projects with assistance from UNDP, SIDA, UK and Canada. These projects covered both soft and hard rock formations in various places throughout the country. Various R&D studies/ collaborative projects on ground water assessments were also executed by the NABARD, Academic Institutions, State agencies. Findings of these projects helped in better understanding of the ground water system and led to formulation of methodology for estimation of annually replenishable ground water resources of the country.

The National Water Policy, 2002 envisages assessment of dynamic ground water resources of the country at periodic intervals. The Methodology for estimation of ground water resources was reviewed and modified from time to time by different Committees constituted by the Govt. of India.

• Methodology by Ground Water Over- Exploitation Committee 1979.
• Methodology by Ground Water Estimation Committee 1984.
• Methodology by Ground Water Resource Estimation Committee 1997.( GEC-                        1997)
• Methodology by Ground Water Resource Estimation in Hard Rock Terrain 2003.

Presently ground water resources are estimated following the guidelines recommended by GEC-1997. Categorization of assessment units are done following the criteria recommended by Hard Rock Committee, 2003.
Following the recommendations of GEC-1997 and Hard Rock Committee, 2003, a Standing Committee named as “R&D Advisory Committee on Ground Water Estimation” has been constituted in the year 2004. The TOR of the committee broadly refers to identification of thrust areas of research with reference to ground water estimation and periodic evaluation and updating of methodology based on the feedback and findings of the R&D studies and collaborative projects.
Ground Water Resources of the country have been assessed and being updated periodically. There are two types of resources viz.

• Annually Rechargeable Dynamic Ground Water Resource: This resource is computed jointly by CGWB and State Ground Water Departments
• Static Ground Water Resource: This occurs below the dynamic resource and it has been evaluated on the basis of explorartory drilling of CGWB. Till now the static resource has been assessed to the depth of 450 m in soft rock and 100 m in hard rock

Dynamic Ground Water Resource (As on March, 2004)

Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resources              433 bcm
Net Annual Ground Water Availability                                399 bcm
Annual Ground Water Draft for Irrigation                           231 bcm
Domestic & Industrial uses
Stage of Ground Water Development                                   58% 

Static fresh Ground Water Resources                            10812 bcm

REPORTS

Ground Water Resources Assessment Methodology

Ground water resources assessment methodology
Detailed Guidelines for implementing the Ground Water Estimation methodology

Hard Rock Committee Report

Ground Water Resources Assessment

Dynamic Ground Water Resources (States & UTs)
State wise Category of Blocks
Report on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India (as on March, 2004)

Reports of the R&D Advisory Committee on Ground Water Estimation

Status Report on Review of Ground Water Resources Estimation Methodology
Report of the Working Group on Methodology for Assessment of Development Potential of Deeper Aquifers

Report of the Group for suggesting New and alternate methods of Ground Water Resources Assessment

Estimation of annual replenishable ground water resources – constitution of State Level Committee for re-estimation of ground water resources

 

Comments/ responses on the above mentioned reports and other correspondence regarding ground water resources assessment can be send to following e-mail ID:

                   res-cgwb@nic.in