Host: Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources
Name : Proceedings of 2024 Annual Conference, Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources
Date : September 10, 2024 - September 12, 2024
The Ganga River basin, highly populated and water-stressed, is pivotal to India's economy, contributing 40% to its GDP. However, the factors driving groundwater depletion remain poorly understood. Using well observations, satellite data, and hydrological modelling, our study reveals a significant loss of 225 ± 25 km3 of groundwater from 2002 to 2016, equivalent to 20 times the capacity of India's largest reservoir. Declining monsoon rains (-11%) and severe droughts (2009, 2014 and 2015 years), compounded by extensive groundwater extraction for irrigation, are major contributors. Non-renewable groundwater extraction, accounting for 80% of depletion, poses a significant challenge, exacerbated by the basin's vulnerability to droughts hindering recharge and exacerbating withdrawals. Addressing this crisis demands crop switching and improved water management to reduce reliance on non-renewable groundwater for irrigation, thereby ensuring the basin's long-term water sustainability.
