Ground water shortage in North India is a threat to food security, know how to deal with this crisis

A recent study has uncovered that the weakening of summer monsoons and warming winters—both effects of climate change—have significantly depleted groundwater levels in North India over the past two decades. Groundwater levels have been decreasing at a rate of 1.5 cm per year, leading to a loss of 450 km³ of groundwater between 2002 and 2021. This decline has increased the demand for irrigation water while reducing groundwater recharge, posing a serious threat to India's food security. Groundwater is essential for agriculture in North India, a region critical to feeding over one billion people in the country.

Impact of Declining Summer Monsoons and Warming Winters on Groundwater:

The study, led by Dr. Vimal Mishra of IIT Gandhinagar and published in the journal *Advancing Earth and Space Sciences*, examined how declining summer monsoon rainfall and warming winters have impacted groundwater storage in India. The study found that summer monsoon precipitation in North India has decreased by approximately 8% from 1951 to 2021, while winters have become significantly warmer. This combination of less summer rainfall and warmer winters is expected to further increase irrigation water demand and decrease groundwater recharge, underscoring the need for urgent groundwater sustainability measures to protect future agricultural production.

Strategies to Mitigate Future Groundwater Crisis:

The research incorporated in-situ observations, satellite data, and a hydrological model that considered the impacts of irrigation and groundwater pumping. Dr. Mishra noted that the trend of declining summer monsoons and warming winters is accelerating groundwater depletion in North India, and this trend is expected to continue. For instance, future projections suggest that a 10-15% reduction in summer monsoon rainfall, combined with a 1-4°C increase in winter temperatures, could lead to a 6-20% rise in irrigation water demand and a 6-12% reduction in groundwater recharge.

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The study stresses the importance of implementing groundwater sustainability measures to mitigate future risks. These measures include reducing groundwater extraction during the summer monsoon season and enhancing groundwater recharge to maintain agricultural productivity. Additionally, the study suggests adopting strategies such as efficient water use in irrigation, flood control measures, conducting hydrological surveys, building dams, and transferring water between areas with water surpluses and those with deficits.