Despite heavy rain, N Bengal suffers 3m ground water loss

Jalpaiguri: A combination of sporadic and irregular rainfall, largescale deforestation and indiscriminate use of groundwater has led to a 3 metre (10 feet) decline in ground water level in the Dooars and Terai region, starting from Mechi along the Indo-Nepal border to Sankosh on the Assam-Bengal border. The region usually gets around 400mm rain annually.
Wells in Dooars and Terai have dried up and shallow water pumps are ineffective as they are unable to extract water in the pre-monsoon period.Locals say the problem surfaced around a decade ago and has progressively turned acute each year. The result is a crisis in drinking water around this time of the year.
“Ground water level in this region from Mechi to Sankosh has come down by around 10ft. There are many reasons behind the change. The weather in this region has changed drastically. From experiencing even rainfall all through the year, rain is now sporadic and irregular. Also, the downpour is so heavy that water runs off and does not percolate into the aquifers below,” said Subir Sarkar, former head of geography department at North Bengal University.
The rainforests depletion has also affected the soil’s ability to retain water. Sarkar called for serious efforts to plant more trees. In addition, global warming too has changed the weather. “Only afforestation can check this,” he added.
State Water Investigation Directorate (SWID) officials also blame the mushrooming water bottling plants for the depletion. They held an aerated drinks factory responsible for pumping out millions of gallons of groundwater.
“The norms set by SWID are being violated. To compensate for the sporadic and irregular rainfall, tea gardens are pumping out groundwater for irrigation. Highrises are mushrooming in Siliguri and adjacent towns flouting SWID norms. At least 50% of rivulets that were a source of ground water regeneration have dried up. Wetlands are disappearing,” said Animesh Bose of Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation.
Illegal quarrying of dolomite in Bhutan hills has further accentuated the problem by causing degradation of water resources. “Quarrying is resulting in landslides as a result of which trees and bushes are not being able to grow on their own. This will result in less rainfall,” said Sarkar, who also once led an Indo-Poland research group working on the issue in the Dooars.