ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Groundwater levels in western India’s Thar Desert are declining at the startling rate of 3-4 m/y. In contrast, the water table in the city of Jodhpur is rising locally by 1-1.5 m/y, despite very low rainfall and three years of drought. In many places groundwater is barely a few centimetres below the surface and in some places water is seeping from the ground. Basements of buildings are flooded with water despite constant pumping. This problem first developed in 1997 when Himalayan water was brought to Jodhpur through the Indira Gandhi Canal (IGC). Studies show that human activities are responsible for the rising water levels. Due to the increased population and improved availability of water, supply to the city has risen dramatically. Poor drainage, leakage from aging water supply and sewer systems, coupled with the fact that the use of dug wells and step wells in the city has declined, all contribute to the extremely high groundwater conditions in Jodhpur.
