Upmanu Lall

India's groundwater is depleting very fast posing a threat to the freshwater resources and food security in the region. North India, a food basket for more than a billion people, has been experiencing rapid groundwater depletion leading to reduction in cropped area and the production of wheat and rice.

Groundwater reserves are depleting at rapid rates in India, which is one of the world’s largest consumer of groundwater with it  providing 60 percent of the irrigation needs of the country.

 A large number of farmers and well operators were interviewed in the process. Data was also collected from the power utility that supplies power to this region. Along with this the climatic peculiarities of the region, farmers and well users perceptions on ground water management and use were also collected.