75 per cent of wells in state record dip

Mumbai: The groundwater situation in Maharashtra appears grim, as 75 per cent of wells have recorded a fall in water stock. Furthermore, Maharashtra is among the worst hit states when it comes to sewage pollution.

The Centre Tuesday revealed that out of 1,645 wells analysed by the Central Ground Water Board, 1,241 (75.4 per cent) had recorded a dip in water levels. Only 24 per cent of the analysed wells had recorded a rise in water levels. In order to assess the decline in water level on a long-term basis, pre-monsoon water level data collected by the CGWB in 2019 was compared with the decadal average (2009-2018).

Maharashtra recorded the fourth highest fall in terms of water level after Pondicherry, Arunachal Pradesh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Karnataka.

Meanwhile, analysis of water level data indicates that about 61 per cent of the wells monitored have registered a decline in ground water levels.

In terms of sewage, Maharashtra generated 8,143 MLD of sewage, the highest among all the states. Of this, 5,160.36 MLD was treated in 76 STPs. The state is followed by Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. However, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) officials claimed that at least half of the sewage was treated in Maharashtra unlike other states.

"Given the large population, Maharashtra is bound to generate more waste. The sewage treatment plants have improved in terms of their treatment capacities. So, we are able to process the waste better than other states. However, there is a need for behavioural change among citizens over dumping sewage," said a MPCB official.