Groundwater Overuse Puts Ten Districts at Risk in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is facing a deepening water crisis, driven by the unsustainable use of groundwater. A recent study found that ten districts in the state are already extracting more than 70% of their annual groundwater availability. This level of use is well above the safety threshold and places long-term farming and water security at serious risk. The findings suggest a direct connection between low climate resilience in these districts and increasing incidents of extreme weather events such as droughts and heatwaves.

Farmers across Madhya Pradesh depend heavily on groundwater to support their crops. The region’s rainfall is erratic, and groundwater serves as a buffer against seasonal shortfalls. This has allowed the cultivation of water-dependent crops like rice, pulses, and oilseeds, which play a central role in local economies and food systems. But the same dependence is accelerating groundwater depletion. As water tables drop, farmers are forced to dig deeper wells and invest in more powerful pumps, leading to higher costs. In some places, over-extraction has also caused land to sink, damaging homes and agricultural land.

Jhabua among most vulnerable

Districts like Ratlam, Jhabua, and Neemuch are among the most vulnerable. These areas not only overdraw groundwater but also suffer from poor infrastructure, limited market access, and weak institutional support. In Ratlam, for instance, the study identified the highest level of climate vulnerability among farm households. With minimal coping mechanisms, these districts struggle to recover from extreme weather events, resulting in a cycle of stress and resource depletion.

Despite the urgency, long-term planning remains weak. State and local authorities often shift focus from one crisis to another, without consistent follow-up. Experts involved in the study noted that climate action discussions often spike in February, only to shift to flood relief by June, highlighting a lack of continuity in climate policy. Short-term measures such as temporary fodder banks offer immediate help during droughts but fail to address the root causes of water stress. There is a clear need for long-term strategies that reduce climate risk and strengthen on-farm resilience.

The study also emphasizes the value of crop insurance, especially in climate-sensitive districts. Insurance helps farmers recover more quickly from crop failure or damage. But insurance alone cannot solve the groundwater crisis. Farmers need better access to data, more diversified farming systems, and climate-resilient crops. Importantly, they need financing—both short-term for recovery and long-term for adaptation. Credit systems are in place, but cooperative credit remains limited, particularly in the most vulnerable areas. The report recommends exploring more flexible credit models tailored to local realities.

States conservation efforts

In response to the growing crisis, Madhya Pradesh has launched several water conservation efforts. The state has focused on rainwater harvesting, treated wastewater reuse, tree plantations, and restoration of traditional water bodies. These actions form part of broader climate and water management strategies. Under the “Akshay Jal Sanchay Yojna,” urban areas across the state have installed more than 47,000 rainwater harvesting systems. Since 2012, building laws require new constructions on plots larger than 140 square meters to include rainwater harvesting infrastructure, making water conservation part of city planning.

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan, started in 2019, gave a significant boost to the state's mission. The program emphasizes renovation of old rainwater structures, construction of new systems, afforestation, and recharge of aquifers through cleaned water channels.

Khandwa district stands out for its large-scale work under these programs. In 2024, it constructed over 129,000 water conservation structures, including thousands of recharge pits, boulder check dams, rooftop catchments, and farm ponds. This effort placed Madhya Pradesh among the top five states nationally in terms of water conservation performance. Despite this success, questions remain about how well these systems function over time and whether local communities are actively involved in maintaining them.

Treated wastewater reuse

Madhya Pradesh has also made progress in treated wastewater reuse. Currently, the state uses over 314 million liters of treated water daily, mainly for gardening and irrigation. Future plans under the AMRUT mission aim to reuse at least 20% of treated wastewater from new sewage treatment plants. In Indore, the cleanup of the highly polluted River Khan is one of the more ambitious projects. Nine treatment plants have been built to handle the 350 million liters of sewage the river receives daily. Officials claim water quality now meets basic standards, but environmental groups and residents continue to question whether regular monitoring is taking place and whether illegal discharges have truly stopped.

Urban encroachments also threaten water management efforts. In 2020, the Urban Administration Department (UAD) ordered the removal of illegal constructions from river floodplains. Clearing such encroachments is crucial for flood control and water flow, especially in growing cities. Yet there has been little public reporting on the scale of these operations or their impact. Without transparency and local involvement, enforcement efforts are likely to fall short.

The state's water conservation campaigns have changed focus over the years. In 2021, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan pushed for groundwater recharge through rapid infrastructure work. By 2022 and 2023, attention shifted to protecting drinking water sources and expanding efforts across all districts. In 2024, the campaign took on a new name—“Jal Sanchay, Jan-Bhagidari,”—and highlighted community participation. Madhya Pradesh ranked among the top performers, showing steady progress. But questions remain about how long these efforts will last without deeper, long-term planning.

Experts stress that while infrastructure is expanding, long-term resilience depends on local data, public engagement, and adaptive planning. For example, many residents are still unaware that rainwater harvesting is legally required for certain buildings. Without public participation and awareness, even the best-designed systems can fail. Local institutions and Climate Action Groups must step in to gather real-time data, track outcomes, and adjust strategies based on on-ground realities.

The way forward for Madhya Pradesh lies in integrating its conservation efforts with deeper structural reforms. The state must monitor groundwater more closely, expand access to credit, and build flexible, district-specific plans. On-farm interventions must be tailored to each region’s strengths and vulnerabilities. Districts with high resilience still need innovation, especially in sectors like poultry or horticulture that often get ignored. Meanwhile, low-resilience districts need focused investment in infrastructure, data, and water-saving practices.

The foundation for better water management is in place, but the work is far from over. Madhya Pradesh must now shift from project-based interventions to people-driven missions. Only then can the state move from crisis response to long-term sustainability.

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