THE Ganga basin, the world’s most densely irrigated area, is a global hotspot of groundwater depletion. The five states through which the Ganga flows account for almost 40 percent of India’s total cultivated land. The basin has 360,000 square km of irrigated land or around 57 percent of India’s total net irrigated area. Groundwater is used to provide a large portion of this irrigation requirement. In reality, the transboundary Ganga basin accounts for one-fourth of total worldwide groundwater abstraction, with South Asia alone accounting for 48 percent of global groundwater consumption.
It is crucial to acknowledge that groundwater plays a key role in ensuring that all rivers retain their base flow even during the summer months. Groundwater, though hidden in the sub-surface, is essential for the survival of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Local and regional groundwater resources are depleted when water withdrawal exceeds natural water recharge. Almost 90 percent of freshwater is utilized for irrigation globally, and groundwater pumping surpasses acceptable levels in India.
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