Question

“The current laws about groundwater in many states are both outdated and inappropriate. They were developed at a time when groundwater was a marginal source of water. Today shallow and deep tubewells have the potential to draw a lot of water.” 

Write your comment on the judicious way of using and equal distribution of groundwater and suggest few measures in this regard.

Answer 1

1. Today underground water is the major source of water for people. 

2. When there is so much extraction, it affects the stock of water that would be available to future generations. 

3. Therefore the landowners cannot be allowed to extract as much as they wish from their land. There should be some restrictions. 

4. These restrictions will be acceptable if we first delink the connection between ownership of land and water drawn through tube wells on the land.