Experts warn of worsening situation, mid and lower hills most affected
Sourabh Kumar
Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh, though a predominantly hill state with plentiful rainfall in several parts, is gradually moving towards a worrying groundwater scenario.
Recent studies by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the state Jal Shakti Department indicate that extraction has risen sharply in several districts, pushing many development blocks toward semi-critical and critical categories.
According to officials, groundwater has become the primary source for drinking water schemes, irrigation pumps, hotels and the expanding urban population. Continuous extraction, coupled with shifting rainfall patterns, has led to a decline in water table across major valleys and foothill zones.
Districts most affected
The worst-hit areas include Una, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra and Hamirpur, where shallow aquifers have shown a rapid fall in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon levels. In Una and parts of Solan, groundwater extraction surpasses the annual recharge capacity, raising concerns similar to those seen in neighbouring plains states.
Himachal has a total of 74 groundwater assessment units (blocks). Of these, several have already slipped into semi-critical zone. Officials warn that if current extraction trends continue, more blocks may enter the critical category within the next few years.
Why the decline is increasing
Experts highlight three major reasons for the continuous decline, including unplanned extraction using deep borewells for agriculture and commercial establishments; urbanisation and construction boom reducing natural recharge; and erratic monsoon and shrinking winter snowfall reducing annual replenishment.
In industrial belts like Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) and the plains of Una and Paonta Sahib, water demand has surged due to factories, institutions and population growth.
What remedies experts suggest
Groundwater experts have recommended several urgent corrective steps, including farmers shifting from water-guzzling crops to low-water alternatives; construction of check dams, recharge pits and expansion of percolation tanks; industries must adopt mandatory groundwater recharge systems; and rural and urban bodies should promote rainwater harvesting structures.
In several pockets of Kangra, Hamirpur and Una, quality issues such as increasing turbidity and mineral content have also been reported. Continuous depletion can lead to contamination from deeper layers, posing risks to drinking water schemes.
The Jal Shakti Department claims that Himachal is taking steps to strengthen recharge structures and regulate groundwater extraction. Officials say the state is working on a groundwater management policy to ensure sustainable use, especially in vulnerable blocks. However, experts feel the pace of action must increase given the rising stress.
Though the overall situation in Himachal is better than neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, experts warn that the trend is moving in the wrong direction. As per preliminary assessments, more than 20 per cent of the state’s blocks now face some level of stress and vulnerability is highest in regions with dense settlement and industrial activity.
Punjab remains worst hit in country
Punjab remains the worst hit in the country with over-extraction exceeding recharge by more than 70 per cent, while states like Haryana and Rajasthan also face severe depletion. Though Himachal’s condition is not as alarming, the rising demand and unequal water distribution make several of its valleys and plains increasingly fragile.
Experts warn that if groundwater continues to fall, Himachal may face challenges in sustaining rural drinking water schemes; supporting tourism hubs like Shimla, Dharamshala and Manali; maintaining agricultural productivity in low-hill districts; and securing industrial zones dependent on borewell supply. Himachal, often considered naturally water-rich, is entering a phase where conservation, regulation and alternative water strategies will decide the stability of its future water security.
