Bhubaneswar, 27 March (H.S.): Groundwater levels are witnessing a steady decline across most parts of Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed the State Assembly on Wednesday.
In a written response to a query by BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, the Chief Minister shared alarming data highlighting a consistent drop in groundwater levels over the last five years.
According to the data, the state recorded a fall in groundwater levels each year from 2020 to 2024. The annual depletion figures were 4.94 metres in 2020, 4.91 metres in 2021, 5.22 metres in 2022, 5.51 metres in 2022 (reported again), 5.47 metres in 2023, and a marginal decline of 0.53 metres in 2024.
The report further revealed that 23 out of the state’s 30 districts experienced significant groundwater depletion during this period. The situation raises concerns over water security, particularly in rural and agrarian regions.
However, some relief was noted in a few coastal and western districts, where groundwater levels showed improvement. These districts include Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Malkangiri, Nuapada, and Sambalpur.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for sustainable water management practices and conservation efforts to address the growing water crisis in the state.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
