38 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
of the groundwater potential of the country through hydrological surveys, exploration,
evaluation and monitoring of ground water regime.
Present Position of Ground Water
The total replenishable groundwater in India is estimated to be about 43.39 million-
hectare metres per year (about 43.86 billion cubic metres). Out of it, about 7.13-mha m/yr
of groundwater is reserved for domestic and industrial uses and 36.26-m.h.a m/yr is available
for irrigation. According to an estimate, there has been a development of 37.24 per cent of
available groundwater resources.
It is a sad affair that out of 5,711 block/talukas/mandals/watersheds in the country, 310
block/talukas/mandals/watershed are categoriesed as “over-exploited”. Over exploited indicates
the stage of groundwater development which exceeds the annual replenishable recharge.
Besides, 160 blocks/talukas/mandals/watersheds are found and classified ‘Dark’ i.e. the
stage of ground water development is more than 85 per cent.
Various Steps
Various steps in the direction of regulation and control of the development and
management of ground water resources in the country are taken as under:
(1) National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan
The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan was
constituted in September 1999. The commission submitted its report to the union Government
in December 1999. The report is quite exhaustive and valuable. Several recommendations
are made. These are mainly for development of water resources for drinking, irrigation,
industrial, flood control, transfer of surplus water to deficit area etc.
(2) Central Water Commission
The Central Water Commission (CWC) New Delhi, is the National Apex Organization
in Water Resources Development charged with the responsibility of initiating, co-ordinating
and furthering in consolation with state government concerned, schemes for control,
conservation and utilizations of water resources for irrigation, flood control, Hydro-power
Generation and navigation through the Country. With its rich expertise built over the last
four decades, CWC has developed considerable technological know-how in planning,
investigation, design, project appraisal and management of Water Resources Development.
It is sharing its knowledge and expertise with the Developing Countries. The commission’s
work are divided into four functional wings viz Water Planning, Design and Research, River
Management and Planning and Progress supported by Administration and Co-ordinate Wing.
The commission has set-up a National of 570 Hydrological Observation Stations. Since
most of the Stations were set-up during 1960’s and early 1970’s Data Records are now
available for nearly two decades. Besides, Guage and Discharge Observation and Sediment
Flow Measurements are carried out in selected 248 Stations and Water Quality observation
in stations are in operation in the Ganga Basin over the Past Two Decades. During 1978-
85, Water Quality Monitoring with respect to Population Loads, was conducted at 42 Selected
Stations on the Ganga under a ‘Special Scheme’ and a Status Report’ on water quality of
the Ganga System was published in Auguest, 1987. Although the ‘Special Scheme’ was
closed, Water Quality Monitoring in the Ganga System was continued and the ‘Status
Report’ on the water quality of Ganga System published in 1987 is being up-dated.