Mumbai: The rainfall deficit in Maharashtra has not only caused widespread drought in the state, it has led to a sharp fall in groundwater levels, pointing to a looming water crisis. As many as 87% or 3,321 of the 3,816 observation wells surveyed in the state have reported a fall in the groundwater level, TOI found. In 29% or 964 wells, the drop is severe – of more than 3 metres.A total of 14.7% or 491 of the wells reported a 2-3 m decline in groundwater. And in 25.1% or 834 wells, the drop is 1-2 m. In 31% or 1,032 wells, the fall is up to one m. The data, recorded till Sept end by the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency, was presented in the cabinet sub-committee on the drought on Tuesday.A decline in groundwater levels is one of the indicators of drought. “The situation is serious if this is the condition already. One can only imagine how much worse the situation will be by April-May next year,” said Pradeep Purandare, retired associate professor from the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI).Officials said a decline of more than 3 m in groundwater levels could point to water problems in the state from this month itself. A decline of more than 2 m could indicate water problems from Jan next year onwards, and a decline of more than one m could point to water problems from March next year.The state has already imposed a 10% water cut in urban and rural local bodies to conserve water. For the first time, the state started making a scarcity plan for water supply in the state from July-Sept. Usually, the plan is made in Oct.The state has also allowed 2% funds of the district planning development committees (DPDCs) to be used for drought relief. The water supply department has prioritized placement of recharge shafts on water supply schemes to take advantage of future rainwater run-off. Three committees have been formed to monitor water scarcity: at the level of the division, district and taluka.“This year we have had to do a lot of planning on the conservation and use of water. The state has already made a scarcity plan and imposed a 10% water cut,” said water supply secretary Parag Jain Nainutia.However, Purandare is critical of the state’s flagship water conservation scheme, the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana. “If groundwater levels have dropped to this extent, it shows again that the Jalyukt Shivar scheme has been a total failure,” he said.
