Groundwater Extraction in Karnataka and its Long Term Implications

This study aims to assess the trend and status of groundwater exploitation in Karnataka, which has a significant area under hard rocks and dry land agriculture. At present, more than half of the state's cultivated area comes under critical to over-exploited category of groundwater exploitation. The density of groundwater structures in state has become 10.63 units per 100 ha, which is three times more than what was in early eighties. Incidence of well failure is increasing because of drying up of existing wells. There is a need to take appropriate measures to contain further exploitation of groundwater, and rejuvenate existing defunct open well and deep tube wells.