Ground water extraction: three Kerala blocks continue in ‘critical’ list-OxBig News Network

Source: National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India 2024

Chittur, Malampuzha blocks in Palakkad district and the Kasaragod block in Kasaragod district continue to languish in the ‘critical’ category in terms of groundwater extraction, according to the latest National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India report.

On the bright side, the Varkala block in Thiruvananthapuram district has been relocated from the ‘semi-critical’ category to the ‘safe’ list, reducing the total number of ‘semi-critical’ blocks in Kerala from 30 to 29.

The ‘National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India 2024’ published by the Central Ground Water Board categorises assessment units — the 152 block panchayats in Kerala’s case — based on the stage of groundwater extraction.

Blocks where extraction exceeds the annual replenished ground water recharge are categorised as ‘over-exploited.’ Kerala has none in this category. Blocks are listed as ‘critical’ if the stage of groundwater extraction is between 90%-100%. As mentioned above, Kerala has three in this category. If the extraction is between 70%-90%, the blocks are deemed ‘semi-critical.’ The State has 29 blocks in this category. Kerala has 120 blocks in the ‘Safe’ list where the stage of ground water extraction is less than 70%.

Kerala also has no blocks listed in the ‘saline’ category.

Compared to 2023, the annual ground water extraction in Kerala has increased from 2.73 billion cubic metres (bcm) to 2.76 bcm. The total annual ground water recharge has risen from 5.53 bcm to 5.67 bcm, and the annual extractable ground water resources, from 5.01 bcm to 5.13 bcm.

Area-wise, out of 27,047.53 sq km of ‘recharge-worthy’ area in Kerala, 777.38 sq km (2.87%) fall under the ‘critical’ blocks, 4,109.06 sq km (15.19%) under ‘semicritical,’ and 22,161.1 sq km (81.93%) under ‘safe’ blocks. In terms of annual extractable ground water resources, out of the total 5,129.67 million cubic metres (mcm) of the State, 136.86 mcm (2.67%) fall under ‘critical’, 752.74 mcm (14.67%) under ‘semi-critical’ and 4,240.06 mcm (82.66%) under ‘safe’ categories.

Kerala also ranks among the States/Union Territories where ground water extraction for domestic use is above 40%.