Meghalaya’s groundwater resources rated “Safe” in 2024 Assessment

Shillong, Jan 01: Meghalaya’s latest groundwater assessment has revealed a promising outlook, with all 40 assessment units in the state categorized as “safe” for groundwater usage.

This is according to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report carried out jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs, which can be used by various stakeholders to implement suitable interventions.

As per the assessment, the total annual groundwater recharge in the country has been assessed as 446.90 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM). Keeping an allocation for natural discharge, the annual extractable groundwater resource has been assessed as 406.19 BCM. The annual groundwater extraction for all uses is 245.64 BCM. The average stage of groundwater extraction for the country stands at 60.47 %.

Meghalaya is predominantly composed of hard rocks belonging to the Archean gneissic complex and Precambrian Shillong Group. These are supplemented by semi-consolidated formations of Cretaceous-Tertiary age comprising sandstones, shales, conglomerates, and limestones​.

The total annual groundwater recharge in Meghalaya is 1.86 billion cubic meters (bcm), with 1.53 bcm being the annual extractable groundwater resource. The current annual groundwater extraction is 0.07 bcm, resulting in a low stage of groundwater extraction of 4.60%, indicating sustainable usage​​.

All the 40 assessment units have been categorized as ‘Safe’ with no saline or over-exploited regions identified​. The recharge-worthy area of the state is approximately 8,135.45 square kilometres, representing 100% of the assessment units under “Safe” categories​​.

Rainfall is the predominant contributor to groundwater recharge in Meghalaya, especially during the monsoon season. The state receives heavy annual rainfall exceeding 250 cm, aiding in groundwater replenishment​.

There has been a marginal rise in groundwater extraction of 0.07 bcm since 2023. The improvements in recharge levels are attributed to better rainfall and enhanced recharge from natural and other sources. Despite a small rise in extraction, the state’s groundwater usage remains significantly below critical thresholds.

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