Out of 457 wells surveyed in the state, only 108 showed increase in their water levels
Picture for representational purpose
Chennai: Tamil Nadu has seen an alarming drop in its groundwater level over the past 10 years. Recording a fall of 76 per cent in its groundwater table, it tops the country in this trend along with Kerala that has seen a 71 per cent fall and Punjab , according to a recent survey by the Union ministry of water resources.Of the 457 wells surveyed in the state, only 108 showed increase in their water levels by 23 per cent, while the remaining 349 wells recorded a decline in their water levels.
The study, which covered 10,219 wells across the country, was done between 2003 and 2013. While 43 per cent of the wells recorded an increase in their water levels, 56 per cent registered a dip. The report tabled in the Lok Sabha reveals that less urbanised states like Arunachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Manipur and Puducherry saw an increase in their water tables and states like Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh saw no significant changes.
“Over the past 10 years Tamil Nadu has either been receiving deficit rain or a deluge. Simultaneously the state has seen tremendous urbanisation choking its wetlands and water resources. Domestic water consumption through borewells has also surged in the recent past, causing the water table to drop,” says Dr. P. Sudhakar, joint director, CPR Environmental Education Centre, explaining that it is for these reasons that ecologists have been demanding the state be declared drought -hit.
“Earlier the rains would be continuous inside the rain forests of Anamalai. Kodaikanal and Mudumalai reserves, but for the past 12 years, the rains have not been encouraging,” notes Mr N. Arun Shankar, secretary, Palani Hill Conservation Council, suggesting that destroyed grasslands be restored to help overcome the situation. “If Tamil Nadu is blessed with intermittent rains, the scenario will change,” he adds.
“Two months ago the report was submitted to the Centre and suitable policy changes are expected. It will help the Centre and the stakeholders (the state governments) work on strategies related to their water resources, and help in reviewing national and state level water policies,” says a senior government official.
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