New Delhi: Annual extraction of groundwater for domestic, irrigation, and industrial purposes has witnessed a surge in Odisha by 0.16 billion cubic metre (BCM) while recharge has dipped by 0.44 bcm in 2023, as per the latest groundwater assessment report released by Ministry of Jal Shakti Friday. The report, prepared after the assessment of 314 blocks in the state, revealed that the annual groundwater extraction for all uses has increased from 7.23 in 2022 to 7.39 bcm while the annual groundwater recharge has nosedived from 17.79 in 2022 to 17.35 bcm in 2023. The extraction of groundwater for irrigation purposes stood at 5.96 bcm, 0.18 bcm for industrial purposes and 1.25 bcm for domestic use, the 2023 assessment report stated.
The report has categorised nine out of 314 blocks assessed as ‘semicritical’ due to groundwater extraction between 70 to 90 per cent of the annually replenishable groundwater recharge. “Out of the total of 314 assessment units (blocks), 9 (2.87%) have been categorised as ‘Semicritical’, 299 (95.22%) as ‘Safe’ and 6 (1.91%) as ‘Saline’.
Similarly, out of 121593.15 sq km recharge-worthy area of the state, 3339.96 sq km (2.75%) is under ‘Semicritical’, 116071.86 sq km (95.46%) under ‘Safe’ and 2181.33 sq km (1.79%) area under ‘Saline’ categories of assessment units,” the report added. Among the semi-critical units, three were found in Khurda district while one each was found in Angul, Balasore, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh, and Nuapada districts.
The report also highlighted that two assessment units – Jharsuguda and Khurda – have witnessed deterioration in 2023 as compared to 2022. Both the units were categorised as safe in 2022 report with ‘stage of groundwater extraction’ standing at 67.8 per cent in Jharsuguda and 69.55 per cent in Khurda. In 2023, the ‘stage of groundwater extraction’ stands at 72.55 per cent in Jharsuguda and 74.16 per cent in Khurda. Significantly, Garadpur in Kendrapara improved in 2023 and was categorised as safe. In 2022, Garadpur was marked ‘semicritical’ with the ‘stage of groundwater extraction’ standing at 73.6 per cent.
KULDEEP SINGH, OP