Why is Indian groundwater important?

Why is Indian groundwater important?

More than 90 percent of groundwater in India is used for irrigated agriculture. The remainder — 24 billion cubic meters — supplies 85 percent of the country’s drinking water. Roughly 80 percent of India’s 1.35 billion residents depend on groundwater for both drinking and irrigation.

How is groundwater used in agriculture?

Irrigated agriculture relies on both surface water and groundwater to support crop production. According to the 2018 Irrigation and Water Management Survey, more than half of all water applied as irrigation came from surface water with the remaining water obtained from groundwater sources.

How much groundwater is used in Indian agriculture?

3.1. India has 18% of world population, having 4% of world’s fresh water, out of which 80% is used in agriculture. India receives an average of 4,000 billion cubic meters of precipitation every year. However, only 48% of it is used in India’s surface and groundwater bodies.

What is the importance of water in agriculture?

Water is one of the most important inputs essential for the production of crops. Plants need it continuously during their life and in huge quantities. It profoundly influences photosynthesis, respiration, absorption, translocation and utilization of mineral nutrients, and cell division besides some other processes.

What are the important water resources of India?

India’s water resources

• Rivers. In India, rivers have been the lifelines of growth and culture.
• Lakes. Apart from rivers, India is house to some of the most beautiful lakes of the world, some natural, others artificial.
• Groundwater aquifers.
• Conclusion.

What do you know about the groundwater resources of India?

As per the report, the Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resource for the entire country is 433 billion cubic metre (bcm), Net Annual Ground Water Availability is estimated as 399 billion cubic metre whereas the Annual ground water draft for irrigation, Domestic & Industrial was 231 billion cubic metre and their Stage …

Why is groundwater important to farmers?

Groundwater is an extremely important resource across many parts of the country, especially where surface water is of limited supply or poor quality. It is widely used as the main source of drinking water for many cities and towns.

What is the main source of groundwater?

precipitation
Most groundwater originates as meteoric water from precipitation in the form of rain or snow. If it is not lost by evaporation, transpiration or to stream runoff, water from these sources may infiltrate into the ground.

How much do we depend on groundwater in India?

India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. It uses an estimated 230 cubic kilometers of groundwater per year – over a quarter of the global total. More than 60% of irrigated agriculture and 85% of drinking water supplies are dependent on groundwater.

Why is groundwater table is falling in India?

The decline of groundwater levels in India by 5-10 m is usually explained as a result of the increased number of tubewells and a decline in average annual rainfall. The present decade in India has been marked by damage caused by a lack of rainfall on one hand and by flash floods due to heavy rainfall on the other.

What is the importance of water in agriculture class 8?

Water is very important for growth of plants as it helps in germination of seeds, absorption of dissolved nutrients, photosynthesis and temperature regulation.

How the water resources play a significant role in the Indian economy?

Groundwater plays an important part in India’s economy. It caters to about 85 per cent of rural demand, 50 per cent urban requirements and more than 60 per cent of our irrigation needs. Of this, 91 per cent was used for irrigation.

What is the importance of groundwater in India?

Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in both urban and rural India. Besides, it is an important source of water for the agricultural and the industrial sector. Water utilization projections for 2000 put the groundwater usage at about 50%.

What is the importance of groundwater for the existence of society?

The importance of groundwater for the existence of human society cannot be overemphasized. Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in both urban and rural India. Besides, it is an important source of water for the agricultural and the industrial sector.

Water is a critical input into agriculture in nearly all its aspects having a determining effect on the eventual yield. Good seeds and fertilizers fail to achieve their full potential if plants are not optimally watered. Adequate availability of water is important for animal husbandry as well.

What is the impact of water scarcity in India?

Nearly 40% of water demand in urban India is met by ground water. As a result ground water tables in most cities are falling at alarming rate of 2-3 meters per year.1 Water scarcity has many negative impacts on the environment, including lakes, rivers, wetlands, and other fresh water resources.