Jammu Kashmir’s Groundwater Use Remains Well Within Limits, Lower Than Most States | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s annual groundwater availability and extraction remain comfortably within sustainable limits and significantly lower than many other States, the Union Government informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday, placing the Union Territory among regions with relatively low groundwater stress even as several parts of the country face over-extraction and water scarcity.

Replying to a starred question on the availability of surface and groundwater resources, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil said Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated total annual groundwater recharge of 2.30 billion cubic metres, of which 2.07 billion cubic metres are extractable. Actual extraction has been assessed at 0.51 billion cubic metres, or roughly a quarter of the available resource, indicating moderate utilisation compared to many States where withdrawals are approaching or exceeding sustainable limits.

The figures contrast sharply with States such as Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Punjab’s annual extraction of 26.27 billion cubic metres exceeds its extractable resource of 16.80 billion cubic metres, while Haryana’s withdrawals of 12.72 billion cubic metres are higher than its assessed availability of 9.30 billion cubic metres. Rajasthan also draws 17.10 billion cubic metres against an extractable resource of 11.62 billion cubic metres. Officials said these trends point to over-exploitation in several regions, whereas Jammu and Kashmir remains comparatively water secure in terms of groundwater use.

The national assessment, carried out by the Central Water Commission and the Central Ground Water Board in coordination with States and Union Territories, estimates India’s average annual water resources across river basins at about 2,116 billion cubic metres. Total annual groundwater recharge has been pegged at 448.52 billion cubic metres, of which 407.75 billion cubic metres are considered extractable. Total groundwater extraction during 2025 has been estimated at 247.22 billion cubic metres.

The statement laid in the House also notes that Ladakh has a groundwater recharge of 0.07 billion cubic metres and extraction of 0.02 billion cubic metres, while certain northern areas not draining into the Indus basin have negligible surface water availability due to terrain and climatic conditions.

On surface water, the government said the Brahmaputra and Ganga basins together account for a major share of the country’s total availability, followed by the Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi systems. Water sharing between States is governed through agreements, and disputes, if any, are addressed under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, under which nine tribunals have been constituted so far.

Much of the parliamentary discussion focused on drought-prone Rajasthan. The Minister said water is a State subject and that augmentation, conservation and efficient management are primarily the responsibility of State governments, with the Centre providing financial and technical support through national schemes. Under the Interlinking of Rivers programme, three link projects are planned to benefit Rajasthan by transferring water from surplus to deficit basins. An agreement signed in December 2024 allows Rajasthan to utilise more than 3,300 million cubic metres of water from the Modified Parbati–Kalisindh–Chambal link project, including allocations for drinking purposes.

Additional support has been extended through irrigation modernisation works under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, restoration of traditional water bodies, river conservation measures and nationwide water harvesting campaigns under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiatives.

The Minister said the Centre will continue to assist States in strengthening water conservation and improving efficiency, while emphasising that sustainable management depends on local planning and responsible extraction, areas where regions such as Jammu and Kashmir currently show relatively lower pressure compared to heavily exploited States.