Lok Sabha Question No. 958 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Inability of CGWB to Assess Groundwater Status in Kolkata
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 958

ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026

## INABILITY OF CGWB TO ASSESS GROUNDWATER STATUS IN KOLKATA

## 958. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

## Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) was unable to determine the status of the groundwater situation in Kolkata in its 2024 Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  reasons  for  the  inability  of  CGWB  to  assess  Kolkata's  groundwater  status  including  constraints related to confined aquifer systems, data scarcity and monitoring limitations;

(c) whether the Government proposes to initiate targeted studies, increase monitoring networks and conduct detailed aquifer mapping in Kolkata to enable accurate assessment and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  the  timeframe  within  which  a  comprehensive  and  reliable  groundwater  status  report  for  Kolkata  is expected to be available?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) annually conducts Dynamic Ground water Resource Assessment of the entire country, including West Bengal, in co-ordination with the State governments. As per the latest assessment report of 2025, in Kolkata district of West Bengal, there is only one Assessment Unit, namely Kolkata Municipal Corporation, which has been categorized as Saline.

(c) & (d) Water being a State subject, sustainable development and management of groundwater resources, including their monitoring and mapping, is primarily the responsibility of the 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.

CGWB, under the Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme, undertakes regular activities  related  to  the  exploration,  monitoring,  assessment,  and  management  of  groundwater  resources across the country, including Kolkata city.

Under  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  Programme  (NAQUIM),  aquifer  maps  along with  aquifer-specific  management  plans  have  been  prepared  for  Kolkata  city,  recommending  suitable interventions for sustainable groundwater management.

Moreover,  CGWB's  groundwater  monitoring  stations  in  Kolkata  have  been  systematically  increased over  the  years.  From  34  National  Hydrograph  Network  Stations  (NHNS)  during  2022,  the  numbers  have risen to 56 established NHNS stations in 2025.

The data generated through regular  monitoring  of  such  stations  as  well  as  study  reports  prepared  for aquifer  mapping  &  management,  which  give  a  detailed  picture  of  ground  water  status  of  Kolkata,  are regularly  shared  with  concerned  state/urban  administrations  and  are  also  made  available  in  the  public domain.