Kolkata water table dips 2m in 5 years, experts flag rise in arsenic, salinity | Kolkata News – Times of India

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KOLKATA: Scientists have sounded an alarm over the rapid depletion of groundwater in the city and warned that unless corrective measures are adopted immediately, the water table could decline by nearly half when the five-yearly study is conducted next in 2025. Besides triggering a water crisis, this will aggravate arsenic contamination and leave the city vulnerable to subsidence, they say.
An analysis of the Central Ground Water Board’s data on groundwater for 2017-21 has revealed a 2.1m drop in Kolkata’s groundwater level, a decline of 18.6% over the level recorded five years ago. For South 24 Parganas, the drop is 2.5m, or 27.8% from what it was five years ago. If left unchecked, the depletion for Kolkata could be 44% by 2025, say researchers. This is particularly worrisome since depletion in water level raises the possibility of arsenic contamination and increases salinity. Higher arsenic contamination has already been reported in Kolkata and South 24 Parganas.

Kol water table dips 2m in 5 years, experts flag rise in arsenic, salinity

“The groundwater forecast based on the current rate of rainfall, flooding and drought-like situations coupled with indiscriminate withdrawal indicates a 44% reduction in Kolkata’s water table by 2025. This will almost certainly trigger a water crisis in the city,” said Dr Nirmala K, a senior researcher at SwitchON Foundation, who has analysed the CGWB data to arrive at the ominous forecast.
Groundwater levels in Kolkata and South 24 Parganas are dipping at an alarming rate, scientists have warned. In Kolkata, homes are primarily responsible for groundwater depletion while in the districts, it is the agriculture sector that withdraws the maximum quantity of ground water.
“The withdrawal is much higher than replenishment. This is why critical areas are increasing. This also accentuates the arsenic and salinity level of water,” said S P Sinha Roy, former director of CGWB and member of the central groundwater authority. Groundwater depletion will also hasten the death of the rivers, said river expert and Pollution Control Board chairman Kalyan Rudra. “During the lean months, the groundwater maintains the base flow of the rivers and keeps them alive. If the groundwater gets depleted to a dangerous level, many rivers will die permanently,” he said.
“As per the initial findings, groundwater usage across Bengal should be carefully monitored using multi-source data to assess actual groundwater use and recharge across the region. It is of utmost importance given the fact that groundwater use across Bengal is rising, especially post 2011 when regulations were relaxed,” said Prof Pennan Chinnasamy, faculty at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and founder director of Rural Data Research and Analysis (RuDRA) Labs.
Vinay Jaju of SwitchON Foundation said, “We have technology solutions and with awareness and change in habits, we can work on conserving water on a war footing mode.”

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