Proposed Action Programme to Maintain Groundwater Levels and Achieve Sustainable Agriculture in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

"Groundwater is extracted through 1.6 m wells to irrigate about 1.2 MHa in Tamil Nadu, which is almost 40% of the total irrigated area. The depth of open wells vary from 10-15 m in some pockets and near the river bank to 50-70 m in districts like Coimbatore. Bores inside the open well have gone to a depth of another 50-70 m in various places. Groundwater bores have gone up to 100-150 m. The groundwater table has depleted from 10 m to 50 m in the last 40-50 years. The area of irrigation by each well has reduced from 1.5 ha to less than 1 ha in the last 20-30 years."