Groundwater

India joins the newly formed Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)

Population increase has placed ever-increasing demands on the available groundwater resources, particularly for intensive agricultural activities.

An estimated 620 million tons of crop residue is generated annually in India, of which 16% is burnt in field.

The sound of a specific cycle bell deep inside the jungles of Kashinathpur village in Angul (Odisha) brings vibes of joy. Everybody recognises that bell because it belongs to 24-year-old Urmila Bahera who sometimes cycles to villages as far as 15 kilometres, braving bumpy roads, streams and elephants.

In the Bundelkhand craton region, groundwater is the primary source of drinking water. Due to low rainfall, agriculture mainly depends on the goundwater supply, which comes through bore wells. Most of the time, the region faces a water crisis during the summer season as the wells and tube wells go dry.

India is the largest user of groundwater globally and as high as 85 percent of water is used for irrigation. Groundwater extraction started with the green revolution that increased  food security and reduced poverty. However, it gradually led to drastic depletion in groundwater levels.

Experts call India’s single use plastic ban weak, argue that it targets the most vulnerable

Mahanadi riverfront development plan: NGT refuses allowing construction on reclaimed land

Water is a vital natural resource, but continuous consumption of freshwater sources at an unsustainable r

Safe drinking water, a global concern

The safety and accessibility of drinking water is a global concern. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that 80 percent of diseases are waterborne. Contamination from the geological formations (termed geogenic contamination) is the major source of groundwater contamination.