Borewells in India

Borewells in India are narrow-diameter, mechanically drilled wells used to extract groundwater from deep aquifers. They have become one of the most widespread groundwater extraction systems in the country since the late twentieth century. As of the latest national assessment, groundwater forms the dominant source of irrigation and rural household supply.[1]

History and development

Mechanised borewell drilling expanded rapidly after the 1960s, in parallel with the Green Revolution in India. Subsidised electricity for pump-sets, easier access to credit, and crop diversification policies encouraged groundwater extraction. By the 1980s and 1990s, borewells had spread widely across the Indo-Gangetic plains and the hard-rock regions of peninsular India.[1]

Technical characteristics

Borewell drilling in India employs methods such as rotary drilling, down-the-hole (DTH) drilling and percussion drilling, chosen according to local geology.[2]

Common components include casing pipes, slotted screens, gravel packing and submersible pumps. In the Indo-Gangetic Plain, borewells are typically shallow, while hard-rock regions in the south require deeper drilling and show variable yields.[1]

Regulation

Groundwater extraction is monitored by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Assessment units are classified as safe, semi-critical, critical or over-exploited based on extraction levels.[3][4]

Several states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Punjab, operate their own groundwater legislation.[5][6]

Environmental concerns

Depletion

Multiple hydrological studies record long-term groundwater decline in parts of northern and southern India. A peer-reviewed hydrological assessment noted significant storage loss in northwestern India due to agricultural extraction.[7]

Water quality

CGWB reports groundwater contamination involving fluoride, arsenic, nitrates and salinity in various regions.[8]

Abandoned borewells

Uncovered or unused borewells pose safety hazards, with several reported incidents involving children falling into narrow shafts.[9]

Conservation and management

According to data from the Central Water Commission, India receives approximately 4,000 billion cubic meters of annual rainfall, of which only 8% is currently harvested.[10][11]

Major government initiatives include:

  • Atal Bhujal Yojana (2020–25) for community-based groundwater management.[12]
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan for rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge.
  • State mandates on rainwater harvesting (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Karnataka).
  • Construction of check-dams, percolation tanks, recharge shafts and pits.[2]

Regional variations

  • Indo-Gangetic Plains: Higher storage, but critical extraction in parts of Punjab and Haryana.[13]
  • Peninsular India: Hard-rock aquifers requiring deeper drilling and showing lower success rates.[14]
  • Coastal India: Salinity intrusion due to over-extraction.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment 2023 (Report). Central Ground Water Board. 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b Manual on Artificial Recharge of Ground Water (Report). Ministry of Jal Shakti. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Ground Water Level in the Country". Press Information Bureau. 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Addressing Punjab's ailing groundwater governance". Hindustan Times. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Groundwater Authority Bill to be tabled in Assembly today". The Times of India. 19 March 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  6. ^ Editor (27 June 2025). "Sikkim HC suggests periodic inspection of pharma companies for effluent discharge; reviews draft Springs & Groundwater Bill". SCC Times. Retrieved 3 December 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Tandon, Aditi (7 June 2018). "India's groundwater crisis, fueled by intense pumping, needs urgent management". Mongabay-India. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b Ground Water Quality Report (Report). Central Ground Water Board. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Borewell mishaps indicate gaps in implementation of 2010 Supreme Court guidelines on issue". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  10. ^ JK, Samir. "Water Conservation".
  11. ^ P, Neerain. "How Borewells Changed India's Water Story: From Solution to Crisis".
  12. ^ "Atal Bhujal Yojana". Ministry of Jal Shakti. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  13. ^ Kamal, Neel (2025). "Punjab Leads with 156% Groundwater Extraction: Report". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Groundwater Level Declines in Chamarajanagar Due to Increased Borewell Digging". The Times of India. 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
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