Replenishable ground water 433 BCM in India

New Delhi, Apr 19 (UNI) The annual replenishable ground water resources of the country has been reassessed at 433 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) and the net annual ground water availability is estimated as 399 BCM.

The assessment was carried out jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the State Ground Water Departments on the state-wise and union territory-wise details of annual replenishable ground water resources, net ground water availability, existing gross ground water draft for irrigation, drinking and industrial uses and stage of ground water development as on March 2004.

In the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan and union territories of Daman&Diu and Puducherry, the annual ground water drawal was more than the net annual ground water availability resulting in over-exploitation in these states or union territories.

Existing Gross Ground Water draft as on March, 2004 for all uses is 231 BCM year. The Stage of Ground Water Development is 58 per cent.

UNI