Rajasthan facing acute recharge of underground water: Kiran Maheshwari, minister

JAIPUR: Due to over exploitation and poor rain water harvesting, the state is facing acute recharge of underground water, cautioned Rajasthan Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Kiran Maheshwari today.

Underground water is now available in 25 blocks out of 249 water zone areas due to over exploitation of under ground water and very poor recharge system, Maheshwari said.

Inaugurating a national workshop on water harvesting here, she said that 224 water zones are now under dark zone.

The water consumption per person has increased 300 times by the year 2015 as compared to data of 1984, she added.

The state requires extensive recharge mechanism, reuse and storage techniques, she underlined.

Rajasthan will also plan digging of bore wells above 100 metre with latest rig machines to explore water in the underground Sarswati river which was hidden in parts of western Rajasthan since time immemorial, she said.