Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently took suo motu cognisance of a report highlighting depleting groundwater levels in India.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, the NGT has requested input from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and water resources departments in 19 states and 2 union territories.

As per the UN's assessment, specific zones within the Indo-Gangetic basin in India have already exceeded the threshold for groundwater depletion. Additionally, the entire northwestern region is projected to encounter severely diminished groundwater levels by 2025.

According to the report, India stands as the world's foremost consumer of groundwater, surpassing the combined usage of both the United States and China. This critical resource is especially vital in the northwestern region, considered the breadbasket for India's vast population of 1.4 billion. Punjab and Haryana, within this region, contribute significantly by producing 50% of the country's rice supply and 85% of its wheat stocks.

The report notably emphasized that 78% of wells in Punjab are classified as overexploited. It further underscored the impending critical shortage of groundwater in the entire northwestern region, anticipated to occur by 2025.

According to the report, Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr. A. Senthil Vel, forming the coram, noted that a grave environmental concern had been raised.

In reply, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) presented a report asserting that the government had adopted measures aligning with the recommendations from the UN University report to improve India's groundwater conditions. However, the NGT observed discrepancies between the CGWB's submission and its Annual Report of 2022. The Tribunal highlighted contrasting portrayals, noting instances of over-extraction in regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat, attributed to the arid climate leading to limited groundwater recharge.

The NGT highlighted widespread over-exploitation in the peninsular region, notably in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and certain areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Additionally, the Tribunal acknowledged the CGWB's recommendation in its report, emphasizing the need for further experimental studies. These studies aim to refine norms by considering various factors such as irrigation practices, soil types, agro-climatic zones, and the impact of water conservation and recharge from water bodies.