Impact of Climate Change on Water Crisis in Gujarat (India)

Abstract

Gujarat, an economically developed state of India, is under severe threat of water scarcity due to rising population, rapid urbanisation, growing water demand and overextraction of its limited groundwater resources. Recurrent droughts have further aggravated the situation as the aquifers are under intense water stress due to inadequate recharge owing to change in meteorological dynamics. With more than 60 million population, the state has already utilised 68% of its groundwater resource, and the trend is ever increasing. Rapid urbanisation, prolific industrialisation and multiple cropping practice have increased the water demand and consumption manifold over the years. At the same time, frequency of heatwaves and intensity of droughts have increased resulting in severe water scarcity. The state suffers from water scarcity every year, particularly during the summer. In the present study, spatiotemporal variations of groundwater recharge and quality have been examined in a GIS environment. Pre- to post-monsoon groundwater storage change in various districts of Gujarat has been analysed to evaluate aquifer recharge. Besides, the impact of meteorological drought on groundwater has been assessed. The study has revealed that water table in Northern Gujarat is falling steadily and has declined by 70 m below ground level (BGL) over the last 30 years. In many parts of the state, the groundwater level has reached 200 m BGL, leading to an irreversible risk of salinisation of aquifers. A significant increase in total dissolved solids (TDS) during droughts have made groundwater unsuitable for drinking, resulting in a different type of water crisis. A correlation analysis between population change and groundwater fluctuation has revealed a direct adverse impact of rising population on groundwater resource. Findings of this study predict that water supply in Gujarat may be in jeopardy in the near future and sustainable use of water and adaptation to climate change is the only way forward.