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Groundwater in J&K safe but threatened: National Assessment Reports

J&K's immense groundwater potential could be utilised to address water crisis
11:52 PM Jan 18, 2025 IST | ZEHRU NISSA
groundwater in j k safe but threatened  national assessment reports
Groundwater in J&K safe but threatened: National Assessment Reports
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Srinagar, Jan 18: The recent national ground water assessment reports present a nuanced perspective of pristine but constantly threatened groundwater in J&K. While most groundwater is categorised as safe, the contamination such as nitrates, arsenic and iron pose a threat to the resource and populations in some areas.

The National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2024 analyses 285 development blocks of J&K. As per the report, J&K's annual groundwater recharge is 2.55 billion cubic meters (bcm) of which 2.30 bcm are extractable groundwater resources. Currently, 0.51 bcm of groundwater is being extracted every year, which is 22.28 per cent of the available resources. Fortunately, all 149 assessed areas, including the Srinagar Urban Agglomerate, have been deemed 'Safe'.

The entire 8,571.96 square kilometers of recharge-worthy area in J&K, as well as 2,303.3 million cubic meters (MCM) of annual extractable groundwater resources, have been categorized as 'Safe'.

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Contamination worrying trend

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However, according to another report by the Central Ground Water Board, released on December 31, 2024, samples from several districts in J&K have been found to have contaminated groundwater. The report revealed that Baramulla and Kupwara districts have arsenic contamination levels exceeding 10 parts per billion (ppb), which is a significant concern for public health. Arsenic contamination can lead to a range of health problems, including skin discoloration, cancer, and neurological damage.

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The report also found that Baramulla, Jammu, Kathua, Kupwara, and Samba districts have iron contamination levels above 1.0 milli gram per liter (mg/l). Iron contamination can cause gastrointestinal problems and discoloration of teeth and skin.

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Furthermore, Baramulla, Rajouri, Kathua, Samba, and Kupwara districts have nitrate contamination levels exceeding 45 milligrams per liter (mg/l), which can lead to some potentially life-threatening conditions especially in infants. The high levels of nitrate contamination can also increase the risk of certain types of cancer. The findings of this report highlight the need for urgent action to address the issue of groundwater contamination in these districts and ensure safe drinking water for the local population. Nitrate contamination is usually a result of soil fertilizers finding their way to groundwater, as well as through waste water mixing with groundwater.

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Jammu, where topography is entirely different from Kashmir, groundwater is primarily found in the outer plains and piedmont deposits between Munawar Tawi and the River Ravi, where it occurs under unconfined conditions, states the report. In contrast, the Kashmir valley, covering an area of 5600 sq km, features Karewas with alternating layers of sand, silt, clay, and glacial beds. Here, groundwater occurs under both confined and unconfined conditions.

The outer plains of Jammu and the Kandi areas near the Siwalik Hills are characterised by semi-consolidated coarse sediments. Notably, the Kandi region has a deep water table, whereas the adjacent Sirowal area is prone to waterlogging. The areas in Kashmir are predominantly characterised by high mountains and steep slopes. In the current assessment, 149 areas were identified as suitable for groundwater recharge, and their resources were evaluated. Notably, the Srinagar Urban Area, with a population exceeding 1 million, was included in the assessment. This area encompasses not only Srinagar district but also parts of Ganderbal, Baramulla, Budgam, Pulwama, and Bandipora districts.