New Delhi: An alarming study has revealed that North India has been losing more than 700 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of groundwater every year for the past two decades, placing the region among the global hotspots for terrestrial water storage depletion.
The findings, published by an international team of scientists, highlight the scale of the crisis in agriculturally vital states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, as well as Rajasthan and parts of the North-East. These states, which form India’s food basket, are witnessing groundwater depletion at an unprecedented rate.
According to researchers, the situation is aggravated by erratic and uneven monsoon rainfall patterns, which have failed to adequately replenish the underground reserves. At the same time, overextraction of water for irrigation, coupled with a growing demand for drinking water and industrial use, has accelerated the crisis.
Groundwater forms the backbone of agriculture in these states, sustaining crops such as rice, wheat, and sugarcane. However, experts warn that if the current rate of depletion continues, both agricultural productivity and drinking water security will face severe challenges in the coming decades.
Scientists emphasise the urgent need for sustainable water management practices, including rainwater harvesting, crop diversification, adoption of water-efficient irrigation methods, and stricter regulations on groundwater extraction. Without immediate intervention, they caution, the long-term socio-economic and ecological stability of the region could be at risk.