Every year, World Water Day that falls on March 22 serves as a stark reminder of the global water crisis, with 220 crore people still lacking access to safe water. While surface water availability often dominates discussions, an equally pressing issue lurks underground — the rapid depletion of groundwater reserves. In Haryana, where agriculture forms the backbone of the economy and urbanisation is accelerating, groundwater depletion poses a significant threat to long-term sustainability: Haryana is one of the most water-stressed states in India, with over 60% of its blocks classified as overexploited or critical by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Recent estimates indicate that groundwater levels in parts of the state are depleting at an alarming rate of 1-1.2 metres per year.

The Green Revolution transformed Haryana into one of India’s leading producers of wheat and rice. However, this success has come at a cost. The cultivation of water-intensive crops like paddy requires extensive irrigation, leading to severe groundwater depletion. Farmers depend on tube wells to sustain their crops, but the unchecked extraction of groundwater has placed unsustainable pressure on the state’s aquifers.

Haryana’s urban centres, including Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panipat, are expanding rapidly, driving an unprecedented demand for groundwater.........

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