PANAJI
With over 40 per cent of the groundwater being extracted for domestic use, Goa has got the least net groundwater available for future use among the Indian States after Sikkim.
As per the ‘National Compilation on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India, 2024’ report, the groundwater level is substantially declining in Goa; however, the water is the safest for consumption.
“In the States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep the groundwater extraction for domestic uses is more than 40 per cent,” the report stated.
The data reveals that for Goa, the net groundwater available for future use is 0.24 billion cubic meters (bcm), after Sikkim (0.22bcm). The net groundwater level in the Union Territories ranges between 0.04 bcm to 0.00 bcm.
“As compared to 2023 assessment, the Total Annual Groundwater Recharge (the amount of water that is added to the groundwater supply) in 2024 decreased from 0.396 bcm to 0.38 bcm and Annual Extractable Ground Water Resources (the amount of groundwater that can be extracted annually after accounting for natural discharge and ecological flow) decreased from 0.317 bcm to 0.31 bcm,” the report stated.
The decrease in groundwater recharge was observed despite receiving heavy rainfall.
“The Annual Groundwater Extraction has also marginally increased from 0.068 bcm to 0.071 bcm, due to increase in domestic, industrial and irrigation. The Stage of Groundwater Extraction has marginally increased from 21.37 % to 22.91 %,” it added further.
Groundwater occurs under unconfined to semi-confined conditions in beach sands, laterites, weathered and fractured crystalline rocks. The development of groundwater from the phreatic zone is mostly through dug wells and shallow bore wells.
“The Groundwater Resources have been assessed taluka-wise. Total Annual Groundwater Recharge has been assessed as 0.38 bcm and Annual Extractable Groundwater Resources as 0.31 bcm. The Annual Groundwater Extraction is 0.07 bcm and Stage of Groundwater Extraction is 22.91 %. All 12 talukas in the State have been categorized as ‘Safe’,” the report mentioned.
The study further shows that within the State's 2209.59 sq km of recharge-worthy areas, the entire expanse falls within the 'Safe' category of assessment units. Out of the State's total annual extractable groundwater resources of 307 mcm (million cubic meters), the entirety 100%, falls within the 'Safe' category of assessment units.
