National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM) | Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, RD &GR Government of India

NAQUIM Success Story

Notable actions initiated on the basis of outputs of aquifer mapping and management programme are outlined below.

In the State of Andhra Pradesh, taking up ground water recharge in the area covered under aquifer mapping is contemplated. The State Govt has completed artificial recharge studies on pilot basis.
In Bihar, aquifer mapping studies have provided newer insights into the depleting thermal springs of Rajgir area in Nalanda District, which is one of the most visited tourism sites in Bihar.
For the State of Delhi, Based on the Managed Aquifer Recharge plans are being prepared in collaboration with NIH, Roorkee.
In the State of Karnataka, the State govt has informed that as per the recommendations, conjunctive use of surface water and ground water programme is proposed to be included in the field programme. The state govt has also informed that rainwater harvesting and ground water quality issues, as per the findings of aquifer mapping studies, are also proposed to be included in awareness programmes. They also propose to do detailed field surveys for artificial recharge sites and recommend them to minor irrigation department.
In the State Kerala, based on the findings of aquifer mapping, two Panchyats (Vadakarapathi and Eruthenpathi) of Chittur block have prepared water security plans. Based on the reports of aquifer mapping studies, Govt of Kerala has initiated artificial recharge and water conservation programmes. For this purpose, the State govt has also sought assistance of CGWB in identifying sites.
In Madhya Pradesh, based on the findings of exploration under the aquifer mapping programme in Tikamgar district, 22 sites for construction of water wells were recommended in villages in which there were problems of locating potential sites for drinking water wells.The PHED, Govt of Madhya Pradesh has prepared a proposal for artificial recharge in parts of Dewas district. Department of Panchayat and Rural development, Govt of Madhya Pradesh is utilising the NAQUIM report for construction of recharge shafts and percolation tanks in Kolans watershed of Phanda block of Bhopal district.
A proposal has been formulated for Recharge of Ground Water in Tapi Basin covering parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The scheme will take the benefit of unique geological condition in the area and is envisaged to augment groundwater recharge.
Maharashtra State Govt, utilising the outcomes of the National aquifer mapping and management programme has undertaken schemes for source water sustainability under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) in 10 districts viz. Nasik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Pune, Aurangabad, Jalna, Latur, Amravati, Buldana and Nagpur.
In Meghalaya based on the management plan suggested by CGWB, the State govt has proposed a pilot project on ground water based irrigation system in Marangar area of Ribhoi district.
Ground Water Department of Rajasthan has forwarded the recommendations of aquifer mapping studies to PHED for consideration.
In Tamilnadu, based on the findings of aquifer mapping, the state government has initiated regulatory measures to control ground water extraction in the coastal areas of Cuddalore district. In addition to this, the State Government has proposed piezometers along coasts to monitor sea water intrusion.
In the state of Uttar Pradesh, based on the outcome of Aquifer mapping 72 arsenic safe wells have been constructed in the second aquifer (Avoiding Arsenic infested first aquifer) in Bairia block of ballia district and Karanda block of Ghazipur district. The main wells have been handed over to the State Govt facilitating supply of arsenic safe drinking water in these two blocks. The maps and management plans have been shared at district level in meetings chaired by District Magistrates/Chief Development Officers of the respective districts in 17 districts. Based on the recommendations of aquifer mapping and management programme, the district Magistrate of meerut has directed the concerned official to implement modern sugarcane irrigation practice in select areas.For sustainability in ground water recharge in stressed blocks and stressed urban areas, a new scheme named 'State ground water conservation mission' has been initiated by the Govt of UP.
Govt of West Bengal has informed that the recommendations of the aquifer mapping studies in West Bengal especially those in the Arsenic affected areas are being considered by PHED for execution.
In parts of the states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal a total of 96 districts have been identified, which are irrigation deprived and where sufficient scope exists for further ground water development. It is proposed to promote ground water based irrigation in these irrigation deprived districts to bring additional area under assured irrigation.