Bhubaneswar: The State Level Committee for Ground Water Assessment and Management (SLC-GWAM) has approved the Ground Water Resource estimation for Odisha-2025, highlighting a notable increase in groundwater recharge due to effective water conservation measures.
The State Level Committee for Ground Water Assessment and Management meeting was held under the chairmanship of Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary (DC-cum-ACS) of the Department of Water Resources (DoWR), Government of Odisha.
According to the estimation, the state’s groundwater extraction stage stands at 48.75%, indicating ample scope for further development. This is significantly better than the national average of 61%. Only 10 blocks (3% of the total) are categorized as semi-critical, with extraction levels between 70% and 90%, warranting cautious further development.
The SLC-GWAM report attributes the increase in recharge to water conservation structures, tanks, and ponds, showcasing the positive impact of conservation efforts. Anu Garg, DC-cum-ACS, DoWR, Odisha, led the committee that approved the estimation on September 17.
