Groundwater is being rapidly and indiscriminately depleted in four districts of Jharkhand: East Singhbhum, Bokaro, Dhanbad, and Ramgarh. Excessive groundwater extraction is taking place at separate sites in three districts, with two areas in East Singhbhum experiencing the worst of the problem. At 74.34%, 66.44%, and 63.3%, respectively, the districts of Dhanbad, Koderma, and Ramgarh are currently facing the greatest rates of groundwater depletion in the state. In Jharkhand, groundwater exploitation is going above sustainable limits in Ramgarh, East Singhbhum, Bokaro, and Dhanbad. While there are two crucial spots in East Singhbhum, each of the other three districts has one site that is seriously depleting its groundwater supply.
The areas most impacted are Dhanbad, Koderma, and Ramgarh, where the respective depletion percentages are 74.34%, 66.44%, and 63.3%.
At now, 1.80 billion cubic metres (BCM) of groundwater are being used by Jharkhand. Critical conditions are still present in Ramgarh and Koderma, and the situation is most critical in six places, including Ranchi, the nation’s capital. The Ministry of Water Power’s Water Resources Assessment report emphasises how vulnerable groundwater is in 11 locations throughout the state. In Jharkhand, rainfall is responsible for 80% of water recharge, with only 5% coming from other sources, according the report for 2023. According to the data, this year 1.8 BCM of groundwater was withdrawn, while 6.5 BCM was refilled.
Roughly half of the water that is collected is used for irrigation, another 12% goes towards industrial uses, and the remaining 38% is used for household usage. According to the research, in 2023, the percentage of groundwater depletion is 31.38%. There is a 100% recharge of groundwater in 1664.2 square kilometres in several districts, such as Godda. Saraikela Kharsawan, Gumla, and Khunti also exhibit satisfactory recharge conditions. But in Dhanbad, where 81% of groundwater is being restored, there are worries since the extraction to recharge ratio is concerning.
