Synopsis:
Water tables in the northern regions of the Indian state of Gujarat have been falling over the last three decades by as much as 2.5-3 meters a year. This is raising concerns of irreversible salinization and increasing water costs and well-deepening expenses on both farmers and state budgets.
Water tables are falling because agricultural activity – central to the state’s economy – is using up groundwater faster than it can be replenished. The Gujarat government provides energy subsidies to farmers who spend money pumping groundwater as a way to encourage farming among its people. This creates a vicious cycle because farmers have no incentive to conserve water, thereby lowering the water table and increasing the amount of energy and money needed to pump water.
