SRINAGAR: All 149 groundwater assessment units in Jammu and Kashmir have been classified as “safe”, with none falling under the over-exploited, critical or semi-critical categories, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The data was shared by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in a written reply, citing the National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2025, prepared jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and states and Union Territories.
The ministry said Jammu and Kashmir has 149 assessed groundwater units, all of which have been categorised as safe. In neighbouring Ladakh, 17 of the 18 assessment units are safe, while one has been classified as semi-critical.
At the national level, the CGWB assessed 6,762 groundwater units, of which 4,946 (73.14 per cent) were found to be safe. However, 730 units (10.8 per cent) were categorised as over-exploited, 201 (2.97 per cent) as critical, 758 (11.21 per cent) as semi-critical and 127 (1.88 per cent) as saline.
The Centre said the country’s total annual groundwater recharge has been assessed at 448.52 billion cubic metres (BCM), while annual extractable groundwater resources stand at 407.75 BCM. Annual groundwater extraction has been estimated at 247.22 BCM, with the overall stage of groundwater extraction pegged at 60.63 per cent.
The ministry said groundwater management is primarily the responsibility of states, while the Centre supports conservation and recharge efforts through schemes such as the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and Mission Amrit Sarovar.
