Q. Consider the following statements:
1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as ‘overexploited’ or ‘critical’ by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct.
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 2 only
d) 1 and 3 only
Correct Answer : b) 2 and 3 only
Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 GS Paper
Explanation:
India’s Groundwater Situation
According to the CGWA, approximately 12-14% of India’s districts fall under the ‘overexploited’ or ‘critical’ category.
Source: Ground Water Resource Assessment | cgwb
Formation of CGWA
The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was established under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. This regulatory body is responsible for managing and controlling groundwater resources in India.
Largest Groundwater Irrigation Area
As per report of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of UN, the countries with the largest extent of areas equipped for irrigation with groundwater, in absolute terms, are India (39 million ha), China (19 million ha) and the USA (17 million ha).
