Ground water sustainability in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh: Current situation and need for effective strategies

Abstract

In recent times, there has been a tremendous increase in demand for fresh water and water shortage in arid and semi-arid regions due to population increase, industrialization and agricultural activities in parts of world. Comparative studies of ground water resources in Varanasi district have been carried out with the objective to identify reasons why groundwater resources is increasingly being exploited, and to explore ways through which the exploitation could be done sustainably. In study area, erratic rainfall, diminish of ponds and reduction of surface water create tremendous pressure on groundwater to fulfill increasing demands. The heavy withdrawal of ground water for sustainable development of agricultural practices, fast urbanization and industrialization led to problems of overdraft, falling water levels and failure/dried up of shallow tubewells/dugwells, degradation of ground water quality and shift of blocks from safe to critical and semi-critical.