India, Dec. 15 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
S.No.
State/UT
Total Area (Sq.km)
Area targeted for coverage (sq. km)
Coverage till March 2023 (sq. km)
1
Andaman & Nicobar UT
8,249
1,774
1,774
2
Andhra Pradesh
1,63,900
1,41,784
1,41,784
3
Arunachal Pradesh
83,743
4,703
4,703
4
Assam
78,438
61,826
61,826
5
Bihar
94,163
90,567
90,567
6
Chandigarh UT
115
115
115
7
Chhattisgarh
1,36,034
96,000
96,000
8
Dadra & Nagar Haveli,
602
602
602
9
Daman & Diu UT
1,483
1,483
1,483
10
Goa
3,702
3,702
3,702
11
Gujarat
1,96,024
1,60,978
1,60,978
12
Haryana
44,212
44,179
44,179
13
Himachal Pradesh
55,673
8,020
8,020
14
Jammu & Kashmir UT
1,67,396
9,506
9,506
15
Jharkhand
79,714
76,705
76,705
16
Karnataka
1,91,808
1,91,719
1,91,719
17
Kerala
38,863
28,088
28,088
18
Lakshadweep UT
32
32
32
19
Ladakh UT
54,840
963
963
20
Madhya Pradesh
3,08,000
2,69,349
2,69,349
21
Maharashtra
3,07,713
2,59,914
2,59,914
22
Manipur
22,327
2,559
2,559
23
Meghalaya
22,429
10,645
10,645
24
Mizoram
21,081
700
700
25
Nagaland
16,579
910
910
26
Odisha
1,55,707
1,19,636
1,19,636
27
Puducherry UT
479
454
454
28
Punjab
50,368
50,368
50,368
29
Rajasthan
3,42,239
3,34,152
3,34,152
30
Sikkim
7,096
1,496
1,496
31
Tamil Nadu
1,30,058
1,05,829
1,05,829
32
Telangana
1,11,940
1,04,824
1,04,824
33
Tripura
10,492
6,757
6,757
34
Uttar Pradesh
2,46,387
2,40,649
2,40,649
35
Uttarakhand
53,484
11,430
11,430
36
West Bengal
88,752
71,947
71,947
Total
32,94,105
25,14,437
25,14,437
Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being annually assessed, jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. As per the 2025 assessment, the total Annual Ground Water Recharge in the country is 448.52 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) and the Annual Extractable Ground Water Resources is estimated as 407.75 BCM. Further, total Annual Ground Water Extraction of the entire country for the year 2025 has been assessed as 247.22 BCM. Based on this, the Stage of Ground Water Extraction (SoE), which is a measure of Annual Ground Water Extraction for all uses (irrigation, industrial and domestic uses) over Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource is worked out to be 60.63% for the country as a whole.
Regarding categorization of units in terms of their stage of ground water extraction, out of the total 6762 Assessment Units (Blocks/Taluks/Mandals) in the country, 730 (10.80%) units have been categorized as 'Over- exploited' indicating ground water extraction exceeding the annually replenishable ground water recharge. Further, 201 units (2.97 %) have been categorized as 'Critical', 758 units (11.21 %) as 'Semi-critical' and 4946 units (73.14 %) are in 'Safe' category. Additionally, 127 assessment units (1.88%) are categorized as 'saline'.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data of the country on a regional scale as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies conducted as per the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Overall, the data on ground water quality indicates that the ground water in the country remains largely potable with localized occurrences of contaminants in isolated pockets.
State-wise distribution of major contaminants such as Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate and heavy metals, as per the Annual Ground Water Quality Report - 2025 can be viewed through the web link provided below:
https://cgwb.gov.in/cgwbpnm/public/uploads/documents/1764833633531847433file.pdf
NAQUIM (National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme) studies have been taken up across the country by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for delineation and characterisation of aquifers and preparation of plans for ground water management. NAQUIM was initiated as a part of the 'Ground Water Management and Regulation' scheme and the entire mappable area of the country of about 25 lakh sq. kms has been mapped. State-wise details of coverage area under NAQUIM are presented in Annexure.
Further, ground water management studies/ plans have been prepared for the entire targeted area across the country covering all the 14 Principal aquifers and 42 major aquifers and District-wise aquifer maps and management plans for 654 Districts of the country, which include both supply side and demand side measures for sustainable management of ground water resources, have been shared with the concerned State/District administrations for taking up suitable field interventions.
Moreover, after the successful completion of NAQUIM 1.0, CGWB has now embarked upon NAQUIM 2.0, focusing on water stressed and quality affected pockets. Under NAQUIM 2.0 state-of-the-art technologies are harnessed, for generating highly detailed, scientific data which serve as an important tool for making informed decisions for improved groundwater management. Thus far, around 68 studies/reports have been completed under NAQUIM 2.0. and the Ministry of Jal Shakti is currently conducting stakeholder consultations on ground water extraction Guidelines.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
