Groundwater crisis deepens in Karnataka’s hard rock terrain

A recent study by WELL Labs has brought critical attention to groundwater depletion in Karnataka's Upper Arkavathy watershed. The findings reveal severe hydrological stress, economic burden on panchayats, and ecological degradation in hard rock terrains like the Deccan Plateau, where nearly 99% of the population depends on groundwater from granite and basalt aquifers.

Key Findings and Issues:

1. Geological Limitation of Hard Rock Aquifers:

• Karnataka’s granite bedrock has low porosity and depends on narrow fractures to store and transport water.

• Drilling deep borewells creates microfractures that divert rainwater away from shallow aquifers, reducing local recharge potential.

2. Overexploitation and Water Table Decline:

• Average borewell depth increased from 183 m (2001–2011) to 321 m (2011–2021).

• 70% of drinking water wells failed within 10 years of construction.

• Groundwater bypasses recharge zones, leading to perennial decline in water levels.

3. Unsustainable Agricultural Practices:

• Farmers in Aralumallige and Doddathumakuru grow water-intensive crops to supply Bengaluru’s markets.

• Heavy reliance on borewells and lack of awareness has led to unchecked groundwater withdrawal.

4. Water Quality Issues:

• Nitrate contamination exceeds safe limits in many areas.

• Despite this, wells are rarely abandoned for quality reasons—quantity remains the dominant concern.

5. Economic and Governance Crisis:

• Free electricity for farmers has led to excessive pumping and rising power debts for gram panchayats.

• Development funds are being diverted to pay electricity bills, crippling local governance.

• Cost of borewell drilling (₹4–5 lakh) is unaffordable for small farmers, pushing them to migrate or lease land.

6. Weak Resource Management:

• Programmes like Sujala and Jal Jeevan Mission have improved infrastructure but fail to address core issue of groundwater sustainability.

• Traditional systems like tanks and lakes have been encroached or degraded, cutting off recharge sources.

Implications:

• Ecological: Disrupted hydrology and drying lakes even after good rainfall (e.g., in Aralumallige).

• Social: Migration of rural youth, weakened community structures, and rise in agrarian distress.

• Economic: Rising input costs, declining agricultural productivity, and strained local finances.

• Governance: Gram panchayats are unable to maintain infrastructure or invest in water security due to electricity debt and failed borewells.

Way Forward:

1. Reform Agricultural Practices:

• Shift to less water-intensive crops.

• Promote organic and climate-resilient farming.

2. Strengthen Local Governance:

• Introduce financial incentives for farmers reducing water/electricity use.

• Implement community-based water management and aquifer mapping.

3. Restore Traditional Systems:

• Rejuvenate tanks, lakes, and recharge channels.

• Protect water bodies from encroachment and deforestation.

4. Integrated Policy Approach:

• Combine infrastructure with behavioural change and resource conservation.

• Encourage data-driven planning and groundwater budgeting at the gram panchayat level.

Conclusion:

The crisis in Karnataka’s hard rock regions illustrates a broader challenge of unsustainable groundwater dependence, compounded by poor planning, weak enforcement, and short-term infrastructure solutions. To ensure water security and sustainable rural livelihoods, India must prioritize local-level resource management, agro-ecological planning, and community engagement.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Ques: Discuss the challenges of groundwater management in hard rock terrains like the Deccan Plateau. How do geological features impact aquifer sustainability in peninsular India?(250 Words)