Lok Sabha Question No. 805 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Decline in Groundwater Levels in Kerala
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 805

## ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## DECLINE IN GROUNDWATER LEVELS IN KERALA

## 805.   DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of recent studies conducted by the Central Ground Water Board and the Kerala Ground Water Department indicating a 30 to 40 per cent decline in groundwater levels in the coastal and littoral regions of Kerala during the last decade;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  major  reasons  identified  for  such  depletion,  including  the  impact  of borewell proliferation, climate change and erratic monsoons;

(c) whether the Government has any targeted plans or Centrally-assisted schemes to encourage traditional open  well  systems  and  regulate  excessive  extraction  through  borewells  and  tubewells,  especially  in vulnerable blocks like Kasaragod, Palakkad, Chittoor and Malampuzha and if so, the details thereof; and (d)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  recharge  groundwater  and  improve  water storage capacity in the State?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  &  (b) Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  monitors  groundwater  levels  throughout  the  country including  coastal  and  littoral  regions  of  Kerala,  four  times  in  every  year.  In  Kerala  State,  CGWB  has monitored  groundwater  levels  in  coastal  districts,  through  a  network  of  established  330  Ground  water monitoring wells. To assess long-term groundwater level fluctuations, water levels recorded in November 2024  have  been  compared  with  the  decadal  mean  of  November  water  levels  (2014-2023)  based  on observations  from  330  wells.  Analysis  of  such  water  level  data  indicates  that  about  69%  of  the  wells monitored have registered rise in ground water levels. The district-wise details for the decadal fluctuation in respect of the coastal districts is provided in Annexure.

The  localised  fall  in  water  level  is  mainly  in  some  urban  pockets  may  be  due  to  increased  water abstraction and limited recharge and storage capacity.

(c) Regulation of  extraction of  groundwater in  Kerala is being done by State Groundwater Authority of Kerala under the Kerala Ground Water (Control & Regulation) Act, 2002. As per the information received, the  Authority  is  mandating  Permit  for  the  construction  of  new  bore  wells  in  notified  areas  such  as Malampuzha,  Chittur,  Kasargode  and  NOC  is  mandated  for  groundwater  extraction  for  industrial  and infrastructural purposes in the State. Industries using groundwater as raw material/ water intensive industries shall not be granted NOC for groundwater withdrawal in notified areas as part of the regulation mechanism.

(d) Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  responsibility  of  addressing  the  ground  water  related  issues  lies primarily with the concerned State Governments. However, the Central Government facilitates the efforts of the  State  Governments  by  way  of  technical  and  financial  assistance  through  its  various  schemes  and projects. In this direction, the important steps taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries for  improvement  of  ground  water  resources  of  the  country,  including  for  the  state  of  Kerala,  are  given below:-

-  The Government is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country, including Kerala, since 2019 which is a mission mode and time bound programme for harvesting the rainfall and taking up water  conservation  activities.  JSA  is  an  umbrella  campaign  under  which  various  ground  water recharge and conservation related works are being taken up in convergence with various central and state schemes. As per the information available on JSA dashboard, a total of around 5.92 lakh water conservation and artificial recharge structures have been constructed/renovated in Kerala since 2021. Additionally, 14 Jal Shakti Kendras have been set up at district level for dissemination of water related knowledge and consultation by citizens.
-  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  taken  up  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management Programme (NAQUIM) with an aim to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization. Entire mappable area of the country of around 25 lakh sq. km, including about 28,088 sq. km in Kerala, has been  mapped  under  the  scheme  and  district-wise  ground  water  management  plans,  containing  both demand and supply side measures, have been shared with the respective State/District administrations for implementation.
-  Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB for the entire country, including Kerala and shared with States/UTs providing a broad outline for construction of around 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 BCM (Billion cubic meter) of water. For Kerala, the Master plan recommends around 7.49 lakh structures.
-  Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA & FW), GoI, is implementing Per Drop More Crop Scheme in the country, including Kerala, since 2015-16, which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency  at  farm  level  through  Micro  Irrigation  and better on-farm water management practices to optimize the use of available water resources.
-  Mission  Amrit  Sarovar  was  launched  by  the  Government  of  India,  which aimed  at  developing  and rejuvenating at least 75 water bodies in each district of the country for the purpose of increasing water storage and boosting ground water recharge. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country with active community participation, with 865 in Kerala.
-  Ministry  has  circulated  a  Model  Bill  to  all  the  States/UTs  to  enable  them  to  enact  suitable  ground water  legislation  for  regulation  of  its  development,  which  also  includes  provision  of  rain  water harvesting. So far, 21 States/UTs including Kerala have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation.

***

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 805  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.07.2025  REGARDING  'DECLINE  IN GROUNDWATER LEVELS IN KERALA'.

Decadal Water Level Fluctuation (in meters) with Mean (Post-Monsoon 2014 to 2023) and Post-Monsoon 2024 (Unconfined Aquifer) for Coastal and Littoral Regions of Kerala

| District            | No of wells anal ysed   | Rise   | Rise     | Rise   | Rise   | Rise   | Rise   | Fall   | Fall   | Fall   | Fall   | Fall   | Fall   | Fall   | Rise   | Fall   | Fall                 |
|---------------------|-------------------------|--------|----------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|----------------------|
| District            | No of wells anal ysed   | 0-2    | 0-2      | 2-4    | 2-4    | >4     | >4     | 0-2    | 0-2    | 2-4    | 2-4    | >4     | >4     |        |        |        |                      |
| District            | No of wells anal ysed   | No     | %        | No     | %      | No     | %      | No     | %      | No     | %      | No     | %      | No     | %      | No     | %                    |
| ALAPUZHA            | 61                      | 40     | 66       | 1      | 2      | 1      | 2      | 19     | 31     | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 42     | 69     | 19     | 31                   |
| ERNAKULAM           | 27                      | 18     | 67       | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 8      | 30     | 1      | 4      | 0      | 0      | 18     | 67     | 9      | 33                   |
| KASRAGOD            | 12                      | 7      | 58       | 1      | 8      | 1      | 8      | 3      | 25     | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 9      | 75     | 3      | 25                   |
| KOLLAM              | 49                      | 28     | 57       | 1      | 2      | 0      | 0      | 17     | 35     | 3      | 6      | 0      | 0      | 29     | 59     | 20     | 41                   |
| KOTTAYAM            | 21                      | 10     | 48       | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 10     | 48     | 1      | 5      | 0      | 0      | 10     | 48     | 11     | 52                   |
| KOZHIKODE           | 32                      | 20     | 63       | 5      | 16     | 0      | 0      | 7      | 22     | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 25     | 78     | 7      | 22                   |
| MALAP PURAM         | 20                      | 17     | 85       | 1      | 5      | 0      | 0      | 2      | 10     | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 18     | 90     | 2      | 10                   |
| PATHANA MTHITTA     | 16                      | 11     | 69       | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 5      | 31     | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 11     | 69     | 5      | 31                   |
| THIRUVA NANTHAPURAM | 48                      | 31     | 65       | 3      | 6      | 0      | 0      | 13     | 27     | 1      | 2      | 0      | 0      | 34     | 71     | 14     | 29                   |
| THRISSUR            | 24                      | 22     | 92       | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 2      | 8      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 22     | 92     | 2      | 8                    |
| KANNUR              | 20                      | 10     | 50       | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 10     | 50     | 0      | 0      | 0      | 0      | 10     | 50     | 10     | 50                   |
| TOTAL               | 330                     |        | 21464.85 | 12     | 3.64   | 2      | 0.61   | 96     | 29.09  | 6      | 1.82   | 0      |        |        |        |        | 0.0022869.0910230.91 |

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