Earlier assessment puts 19 distts in safe category
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 11: For the first time in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, assessment of ground water resources is being conducted at the block level and outcome will immensely help all the planners and user agencies engaged in the development and management of resources.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in different parts of the country assessment of ground water resources is conducted at the block level every year but in Jammu and Kashmir exercise at such a level is being conducted for the first time on the directions of the Government of India as well as Government of J&K Union Territory.
During the earlier exercise with district as an assessment units 19 out of 20 districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir were placed in the safe category and now both the Governments want to analyze the situation at the block level, they said while not ruling out the possibility of some blocks in both the divisions of Union Territory turning out to be ‘hot spots’ after critical assessment.
They disclosed that Regional Director of Central Ground Water Board has already sought necessary details/data from all the concerned departments of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir so that assessment of ground water resources after following the set norms is completed by the end of September 2024, the deadline fixed by the Government of India.
The Government of J&K Union Territory has already constituted a standing committee headed by Administrative Secretary of Jal Shakti Department and comprising of Administrative Secretary of Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, Director Rural Sanitation, Director Agriculture of both the divisions, both the Directors of Industries, Chief Engineers of Jal Shakti (PHE) and (Irrigation and Flood Control) of both the divisions. Regional Director, Central Ground water Board Jammu is the Member Secretary of the committee.
Apart from the mandate of ensuring assessment of annual ground water recharge, the standing committee is supposed to adopt improved procedures and practices wherever possible for the achieving greater accuracy of assessment.
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Quoting the earlier report of Central Ground Water Board Jammu, sources said, “there is no over exploitation of ground water for agriculture requirement of the UT, as surface water is limited to certain parts of UT and there is scope of development of ground water in agriculture, drinking and industrial uses”, adding all 19 assessment units are in “safe” category while one assessment unit Srinagar urban area is under semi-critical category.
Stating that ground water is an important source to meet the water requirements of various sectors like irrigation, domestic and industries, they said that groundwater usage, if left unregulated, may lead to serious inter-sectoral conflicts.
“The growth in agriculture and industry is impingent on how we can manage groundwater resources particularly the aquifers”, they further said, adding “the sustainable development of ground water resources requires a precise quantitative assessment based on reasonably valid scientific principles. The fundamental basis for good ground water management is a clear understanding of aquifers and the status of ground water accumulation and movement in these aquifers”.
Sources further said that in Jammu and Kashmir surface water resources are committed through Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and Indian share is being fully utilized through a well-organized canal irrigation system. However, the available surface water resources of the UT being unable to meet the demand of agriculture are increasing pressure on groundwater resources as such their proper assessment on yearly basis is imperative and block as assessment unit will go a long way in helping the planners and user agencies.
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