Why in news?
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM), which envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of Ground Water Resources.
Details
- Out of the nearly 25 lakh km2 of mappable area in the country, so far aquifer maps and management plans have been developed for an area of 11.8 lakh km2 covering various parts of the country.
- Aquifer mapping across the country is being undertaken on assessment unit (Block/Taluka/Mandal/Firkka) level.
- CGWB collects ground water data, which is available in public domain and can be accessed through the web-site of CGWB. All persons/institutions/organisations including GPs can use this data for ground water management.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
- CGWB is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India and it is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation and regulation of ground water resources of the country.
- Central Ground Water Board was established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells Organization under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. It was merged with the Ground Water Wing of the Geological Survey of India during 1972.
- Major activities being taken up by Central Ground Water Board include macro/micro-level ground water management studies, exploratory drilling programme, monitoring of ground water levels and water quality through a network of ground water observation wells comprising both large diameter open wells and purpose-built bore/tube wells (piezometers), implementation of demonstrative schemes for artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting for recharge augmentation.
