National Project on Aquifer Management

The National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM) is a major initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, designed to map, characterise, and manage the country’s groundwater resources at the aquifer level. It is implemented by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) as part of the Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWM&R) scheme. The project seeks to ensure sustainable groundwater utilisation through scientific assessment, community participation, and data-driven decision-making.

Background and Rationale

Groundwater is the lifeline of India’s agriculture, industry, and domestic water supply. However, unregulated extraction, contamination, and uneven recharge have resulted in widespread depletion and water stress. Traditional management practices often relied on administrative boundaries rather than hydrogeological divisions, leading to inefficient policies.
To address these challenges, the National Project on Aquifer Management was conceptualised during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan as a scientific and participatory approach to groundwater governance. Its guiding principle, “Know your Aquifer, Manage your Aquifer,” underscores the need to understand aquifer characteristics before planning sustainable use.

Objectives

The project aims to establish a detailed understanding of India’s aquifer systems and to promote sustainable water management at the grassroots level. Its key objectives include:

• Delineation and characterisation of aquifers in three dimensions to understand their extent, storage, and hydraulic properties.
• Identification of problems such as over-extraction, contamination, and recharge potential.
• Formulation of aquifer-based management plans, including both supply-side and demand-side measures.
• Promotion of participatory groundwater management, involving local communities, state agencies, and technical institutions.
• Regular monitoring of groundwater levels and quality, especially in regions affected by contaminants such as arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate.

Project Structure and Methodology

The implementation of NAQUIM follows a scientific and phased approach, integrating field investigation, data analysis, and stakeholder participation.

1. Data Compilation and Gap AnalysisExisting data from hydrological surveys, drilling records, and water-quality analyses are compiled to identify gaps requiring further exploration.
2. Scientific InvestigationsField activities such as borehole drilling, hydrogeological surveys, geophysical mapping, pumping tests, and water sampling are undertaken to fill information gaps and assess aquifer characteristics.
3. Data Integration and ModellingInformation from various sources is integrated to create 3D hydrogeological models depicting aquifer geometry, recharge–discharge dynamics, groundwater flow, and quality profiles.
4. Formulation of Management PlansBased on model outcomes, aquifer-specific management strategies are designed, including artificial recharge zones, groundwater regulation, efficient irrigation techniques, and protection from pollution.

These plans are subsequently shared with State Ground Water Departments and State Level Coordination Committees (SLCCs) for review, adoption, and implementation.
The project also involves collaboration with academic and research institutions, such as IITs, IISc, and the Geological Survey of India, to enhance technical quality and innovation.

Coverage and Progress

The total area of India suitable for aquifer mapping has been estimated at approximately 2.5 million square kilometres, out of a total geographic area of 3.3 million square kilometres. NAQUIM aims to cover this entire mappable region through systematic surveys.
By 2023, significant progress had been made in mapping groundwater systems, including the identification of contaminated zones and over-exploited regions. The project has also facilitated the construction of exploratory wells in states such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, where deeper, arsenic-safe aquifers have been identified and made available for local water supply.
All outputs generated under NAQUIM—such as aquifer maps, management plans, and hydrogeological data—are shared with state agencies to assist in policy formulation and resource planning under various national programmes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Significance and Impacts

The National Project on Aquifer Management represents a shift from traditional groundwater assessment to aquifer-based management, emphasising sustainable utilisation and local empowerment. Its major impacts include:

• Scientific understanding of groundwater systems, enabling accurate assessment of availability, quality, and recharge potential.
• Data-based policy formulation, allowing for targeted interventions in critical and over-exploited blocks.
• Protection from contamination, by identifying safe zones and recommending suitable abstraction points.
• Integration with other development schemes, such as watershed management and irrigation projects.
• Capacity building and community awareness, fostering participatory management and responsible groundwater use.

Challenges

Despite its wide-ranging benefits, NAQUIM faces several operational and institutional challenges:

• Data gaps in remote or geologically complex areas hinder precise mapping.
• High technical and financial requirements for field surveys and advanced modelling.
• Coordination difficulties among multiple agencies and levels of governance.
• Slow implementation of management plans due to limited local capacity or resources.
• Impact of climate change on recharge patterns, which complicates long-term projections.
• Limited community participation in certain regions due to lack of awareness or incentives.

Future Directions

To enhance the project’s long-term effectiveness, future priorities include:

• Expanding mapping coverage to all remaining unmapped regions.
• Developing dynamic monitoring systems using remote sensing, IoT sensors, and real-time data integration.
• Linking aquifer management with rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge programmes.
• Building state-level technical capacity for independent mapping and monitoring.
• Regularly updating aquifer databases in response to land-use change, population growth, and climatic variability.