Important for
Prelims: Geography and Environment
Mains: General Studies Paper I
Land subsidence
- Land subsidence in the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Faridabad. According to the data gathered for years by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), excessive groundwater extraction is identified as the underlying cause of these alarming incidents
- Land subsidence refers to the gradual sinking or settling of the Earth’s surface, usually due to the compaction of underground layers of soil, rock, or other materials.
- Land Subsidence Due to Groundwater Extraction
- Urbanization and unplanned growth exacerbated groundwater withdrawal and contributed to subsidence in the NCR.
- Kolkata and parts of eastern India also experience overexploited groundwater blocks and land subsidence
- Unregulated Pumping :- enables overexploitation and depletion of scarce groundwater resources.
- Preference to Water-Intensive Crops
- Ecological Impacts: Groundwater depletion affects ecosystems by altering the flow of water in rivers, lakes, and wetlands
Way Forward
- Crop Diversification and Efficient Irrigation.
- Wastewater Recycling and Reuse.
- Technology and Monitoring:
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