Haryana to soon become the first state in the country to have aquifer mapping done for its groundwater resources by May. An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock, from which groundwater can be extracted. The mapping will assist the state in estimating the quantity and quality of groundwater in an aquifer and would help it in assessment of sustainable level of water extraction.

Haryana is one of the eight states selected for this kind of scientific mapping in the first phase. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka,Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telengana are the other states selected for the purpose. These are the states where the groundwater situation has already reached a critical level.

The aquifer mapping is currently being done in eight states by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). It has been using advanced technologies like heli-borne geophysical surveys for mapping and sophisticated software for preparing management plans.

The mapping will eventually help in predicting the groundwater scenario in the country. At present, 1071 units out of total 6607 groundwater assessment units (blocks/mandals/talukas) in the country are over-exploited. Additionally, 914 units are in various stages of groundwater criticality. An over-exploited unit means that the withdrawal of water is more than the recharge in that particular unit.