• Dr. Hirenkumar Chandrakant Chag

At present, some initiatives have been taken at the national level to promote development of the resource. The National Water Policy of 1987, recognises the fact that questions of prudent groundwater resource management and conservation as well as equitable distribution have to be tackled on the basis of common policies and strategies. The beginning of the planning era witnessed an overemphasis on surface irrigation works. This was due to several reasons, such as, (i) long Indian experience in canal irrigation; (ii) uncertain assessment of groundwater potential; (iii) lack of availability of pumping equipment; and (iv) constraints on energy requirement. It is from the Third Plan onwards that we see a shift in favour of groundwater development mainly due to the severe drought experienced in eastern India during 1966-67 and the realisation that prudent management of the resource is imminent. Inspite of this, as already stated above, only thirty per cent of the groundwater potential in terms of safe yield of the groundwater basins, is being utilised. This clearly shows that much more attention needs to be given to this sector. The setting up of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), a body at the national level to conduct necessary surveys and investigations to be carried out by its regional offices and field offices located in various parts of the country, has again been a step forward for the development of the resource. In addition to CGWB, each state has its own Groundwater Survey Organisation which carries out similar work but at a minor level. These bodies have played a significant role because scientific assessment of the quantity and quality of groundwater is difficult and also preconditional to its development.

"A STUDY OF GROUNDWATER DEVELOPMENT AND LEGAL REGULATION", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 9, page no.e822-e831, September-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2309500.pdf

"A STUDY OF GROUNDWATER DEVELOPMENT AND LEGAL REGULATION", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 9, page no. ppe822-e831, September-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2309500.pdf