A 2018 study by NITI Aayog estimated that 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress, with a potential 6% loss in GDP — a reality that is already visible in many parts of the country. India’s Water Crisis: Time for a Ground-Level Change | Countercurrents
India’s dependence on groundwater is alarming. Around 85% of drinking water and over 60% of irrigation needs come from underground aquifers. According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB, 2023), the country uses an average of 60.5% of its extractable groundwater, with states like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan exceeding 100% — a situation classified as ‘over-exploited’. Post-monsoon groundwater levels in some tehsils, such as Shirur in Pune district, stand at 5.4 metres below ground level, which CGWB categorises as ‘deep’.
10/08/2025