Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh showed a relatively balanced approach in groundwater use in 2024, according to the Dynamic Ground Water Resources Report. The report was compiled by the Central Ground Water Board, North Central Region, Bhopal, in association with the Ground Water Survey, Water Resources Department of the state government.
It shows that the stage of groundwater extraction — the percentage of groundwater extraction with respect to the annual extractable groundwater recharge — is 58.40%.
This is a measure of the total water taken out against the total water available for extraction. There is a small improvement from 2023, when it was at 58.75%. Also, of the 317 assessment units (blocks, urban areas), 225 were safe. Under the overexploited category were 26 units (8%), 5 (2%) were critical, and 61 (19%) semi-critical.
Talking about the extractable resources, the report says that out of 33,989.73 mcm of total annual extractable resources of the state, 3,533.45 mcm (10.4%) are overexploited,554.63 mcm (1.63%) are critical, 6464.26 mcm (19.02%) semi critical, and 23,437.4 mcm (68.95%) are safe.
Almost all overexploited units fall in the western part of Madhya Pradesh, which is known as the Malwa region. Here, groundwater extraction has increased manifold during the past decades.
Bhopal ‘semicritical’
Bhopal district’s Berasia, Bhopal Urban, and Phanda fall in the semicritical category. The stage of ground water extraction in Berasia is 78.84% followed by Bhopal Urban at 77%, and Phanda 80.68%. Bhopal district’s total percentage in the stage of groundwater extraction stands at 79.29%.
Overexploited, semicritical and safe categories
Agar Malwa’s Nalkheda and Susner are in the overexploited category followed by Badod which comes in the semicritical category.
Different areas of Alirajpur district fall in the safe category. These include Alirajpur, Bhabra, Jobat, Kattiwara, Sondwa, and Udaigarh etc. Another tribal dominated district is Anuppur where only Kotma is in the semicritical category while the rest, Anuppur, Jaithari, and Pushprajgarh, are in the safe category.
Interestingly, all the areas of Balaghat fall in the safe category. They include Baihar, Balaghat, Birsa, Katangi, Khairlangi, Kirnapur, Lalbabra, Lanji, Paraswada, and Waraseoni. Badwani district’s Pansemal is in the overexploited category. If the stage of groundwater extraction percentage is seen district-wise, then Ratlam is at the highest at 134.04%.
Ratlam reported highest groundwater extraction at 134.04%
Badwani’s Pansemal and Agar Malwa’s Nalkheda and Susner in overexploited category
All areas of Balaghat fall in the safe category
