Expressing serious concern over the fast depleting ground water level across the state, mainly in north Gujarat and Saurashtra, a seven-member high-level Task Force has recommended to adopt a four-pronged groundwater management strategy to arrest this disturbing trend.

The government had recently appointed the Task Force headed by Tushaar Shah of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). It was set up to study the various methods of artificial recharge (of ground water) in different parts of the state, and suggest an action plan for the effective and timely implementation of recharge schemes.

In its report submitted to the government, the Task Force has suggested that the government adopt a ground water management strategy – recharging with surface water with the active farmers/community participation, recharging with rain water, evolving a policy for the ground water demand management, and to encourage local communities for accelerated recharge.

The Task Force has suggested that as much as 2,058 million cubic metres (MCM) of ground water mainly in north Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch could be recharged by constructing over one lakh structures involving an estimated cost of Rs 3,465 crore.

The structures suggested include percolation tanks with shallow recharge wells (21,200), dug wells (42,000), check dams (23,600) and 200 metre-depth recharge wells (22,400).

Giving details of the report, B N Nawalawala, Advisor (water resources) to the Chief Minister, told The Indian Express that to check the declining trend of ground water level, the Task Force has suggested notifying the areas to prevent further depletion and divert water from the committed surface water within river basins for recharge.

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