Expert Talk Session on Groundwater: A vanishing Resource Challenges and Way Forward
Event Date: 8th January 2025
Event brief description
The Expert Talk Session on Groundwater: A Vanishing Resource – Challenges and Way Forward, presented by Dr. Basant Yadav, Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee, provided valuable insights into the critical issue of groundwater depletion and its long-term implications. Dr. Yadav highlighted the alarming rate at which groundwater resources are being over-exploited, primarily due to excessive agricultural extraction, urbanization, and industrial use. He explained the dire consequences of this depletion, such as reduced water availability for irrigation and drinking, deteriorating water quality due to contamination, and environmental imbalances. Dr. Yadav emphasized the importance of adopting sustainable water management practices, including the revival of traditional water conservation techniques, efficient irrigation systems, and improved groundwater recharge methods. He also discussed the role of policy reforms and technological innovations in addressing groundwater depletion. The session concluded with a call to action for collaborative efforts involving governments, industries, and local communities to ensure the responsible and equitable management of groundwater resources. Dr. Yadav's expert insights underscored the urgency of finding practical solutions to safeguard this invaluable resource for future generations.
Event Detailed Description
The Expert Talk Session on Groundwater: A Vanishing Resource – Challenges and Way Forward, delivered by Dr. Basant Yadav, Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee, provided a comprehensive analysis of the current state of groundwater resources and the pressing challenges surrounding their depletion. Dr. Yadav began by emphasizing the critical role groundwater plays in supporting agriculture, drinking water supplies, and industrial processes, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. He highlighted the alarming rates of groundwater extraction across India, driven primarily by agriculture, which accounts for nearly 80% of the total usage. The talk underscored the unsustainable practices of over-extraction and poor water management, leading to severe declines in water levels, particularly in regions like the North-Western and Deccan Plateau areas.
Dr. Yadav further discussed the negative impacts of groundwater depletion, including the deterioration of water quality due to the intrusion of contaminants such as nitrates, pesticides, and heavy metals. He also addressed the phenomenon of groundwater salinization and the resulting consequences for crop productivity and human health. In addition to over-extraction, he pointed out that inadequate recharge of aquifers due to deforestation, urbanization, and impermeable surfaces has compounded the problem, resulting in large-scale groundwater depletion across the country.
Throughout the session, Dr. Yadav emphasized the importance of holistic and sustainable water management strategies to mitigate the challenges. He advocated for the implementation of efficient irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, which can significantly reduce water consumption in agriculture. He also called for the revival of traditional rainwater harvesting methods and the promotion of artificial groundwater recharge techniques, such as recharging ponds, check dams, and percolation tanks.
Department Name –School of Agriculture in collaboration with Department of Civil Engineering
Event Outcome
Dr. Yadav’s session provided a thought-provoking and detailed look into the challenges and solutions surrounding groundwater depletion. His insights were both practical and scientifically grounded, leaving the audience with a clearer understanding of the urgency of sustainable water management practices and the need for collective action.
Related Goal
