Only 7 of Delhi’s 34 groundwater units classified safe: Centre

Nearly one-third of Delhi’s groundwater assessment units have been categorised as over-exploited, with only seven of the capital’s 34 units falling in the safe category, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, 10 of Delhi’s 34 groundwater assessment units (29.41 per cent) are over-exploited, 11 (32.35 per cent) are classified as critical and six (17.65 per cent) as semi-critical. Only seven units (20.59 per cent) have been categorised as safe. The assessment has been carried out on a tehsil-wise basis.

The data was shared in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha and is based on 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 that across the country, 730 of the 6,762 groundwater assessment units have been categorised as over-exploited, 201 as critical, 758 as semi-critical, 4,946 as safe and 127 as saline.

It said the country’s 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 at 60.63 per cent.

The Centre said groundwater management is primarily the responsibility of states, while it supports conservation and recharge through schemes such as the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and Mission Amrit Sarovar.