Entire Gujarat mapped under National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme

New Delhi: The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), as part of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), has successfully mapped all 33 districts in the state of Gujarat. Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Bishweswar Tudu, revealed this during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament in response to a question from Rajya Sabha Member.

In the reply to Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani, the government stated, ‘In Gujarat, the NAQUIM studies have been completed in all the 33 districts, covering a mappable area of around 1.62 Lakh Sq. Km. Details are below:

The CGWB handles all tasks through a common Regional office in the States of Gujarat & Daman & Diu, resulting in a combined funds allocation and expenditure of 75.27 crore and 70.07 crore respectively in the state (cumulative figures since 2012-13).

Highlighting the benefits of the program, the government said “National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) was taken up by the Central Ground Water board (CGWB) with the objectives of delineation and characterization of aquifer systems in the country and preparation of aquifer management plans through scientific means. Major benefits of NAQUIM studies are that, they have provided better insights into the occurrence and disposition of aquifer systems and thereby helping in formulation of suitable ground water management strategies for overall sustainable ground water management in the country.”

Further, these outputs of NAQUIM studies are being used in planning of activities like safe drinking water source finding & source sustainability, interventions for rainwater harvesting/groundwater recharge and water conservation, assured irrigation through ground water in areas that have adequate ground water potential, ground water regulation, participatory groundwater management etc.