Friday, September 9 2005 13:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: With fast depletion of groundwater levels in Karnataka, the state government is actively considering to bring a legislation to preserve the resource, a top official of the department of Mines and Geology said.

Dr T N Venugopal, Joint Director, Mines and Geology told sources that the proposed legislation is under active consideration of the state government.

The stage of groundwater development in the state has already relater availability is 15,17,255 ham. and existing groundwater draft for all uses is 10,67,236 ham., he said.

Out of the 234 watersheds in the state, 17 watersheds have been classified as semi-critical, 10 watersheds critical and 80 watersheds have been categorized as overexploited.

In the state as a whole, Venugopal said, groundwater utilization is about 70 per cent in 107 watersheds; and 70 per cent or more in 127 watersheds. In these (127) watersheds there is scope of constructing new wells/bore wells for irrigation purposes, he said.

However, with 80 watersheds being overexploited, the problems that need to be addressed include increasing unit cost of borewell construction, increasing energy consumption, drop in the efficiency of pumps and change in the quality of groundwater, Venugopal said.

When the utilization exceeds 100 per cent, then they are over-exploited. In such areas there is a need for recharging groundwater resources through rainwater harvesting and other methods, he said.

However, "a mere legislation will not suffice. It has be followed by creation of public awareness and participation of all public and private shareholders in evolving a strategy for conservation," he added. As per Karnataka Groundwater Assessment Report 2004 "which has been cleared in principle by the Centre", net groundwater availability is 15,17,255 ham. and existing groundwater draft for all uses is 10,67,236 ham., he said.