NEWS

• As per the Union Government’s 2024 groundwater study, five districts in Karnataka, including Bengaluru Urban, have crossed the 100% groundwater extraction mark, categorizing them as “overexploited” zones.
• Despite local concerns, Karnataka’s overall groundwater status has improved, ranking 10th nationally in extraction levels compared to 5th in the previous report.

HIGHLIGHTS

Districts with Overexploited Groundwater

• Kolar: 193.35%
• Bengaluru Urban: 186.7%
• Chikkaballapur: 164.33%
• Bengaluru Rural: 147.05%
• Chitradurga: 144.44%
• Note: Extraction beyond 100% = Overexploited; 90–100% = Critical; 70–90% = Semi-critical.
• Statewide average: 68.44% (improved overall).

Government Measures

• ‘Water is Future’ (Neeriddare Nale) Project launched by the Minor Irrigation Department.
  • Phase I: Covers 525 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in 27 taluks across 15 critical/overexploited districts.
  • Bengaluru Urban: 86 GPs included.
• AI-Based Monitoring: Plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence to monitor groundwater in 41,489 lakes.
• Lake Rejuvenation Efforts:
  • 143 lakes in Koramangala–Challaghatta Valley (KC) and 65 in Hebbal–Nagavara (HN) being refilled.
  • Result: Water tables improved (now at 250–300 ft vs earlier 1,300 ft).
  • Agricultural output rise — Vegetables (↑70%), Flowers (↑80%), Fruits (↑35%).

National Context

• Top Extracting States: Punjab (156.87%), Rajasthan (149.86%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (142.17%).
• South India: Puducherry (75.91%) and Tamil Nadu (74.26%) record higher extraction than Karnataka.