Q. Consider the following statements :

  1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
  2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
  3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • 1 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • (2 only
  • 1 and 3 only

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Notes:

  • Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, (1986).
  • It regulates the extraction of groundwater through guidelines that are updated regularly.
  • At 39 million hectares (67% of its total irrigation), India has the world’s largest groundwater well-equipped irrigation system.
  • Out of the 5723 assessment units assessed jointly by State Ground Water Departments and CGWB in the country, as per the report of Niti Aayog, the following is the data –
    • Safe-71%,
    • Semi-critical-10%, 
    • Critical-4%, and 
    • Over Exploited-15%.

Central Ground Water Board

  • Central Ground Water Board was established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells Organization .
  • It is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibility of providing scientific inputs for the management of groundwater, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation, and regulation of groundwater resources of the country. 
  • CGWB is under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.