Ground Water Development - Issues and Sustainable Solutions

Ground water resources are receiving global attention, as human population growth and development cause significant changes to the earth system. It plays a major role in ensuring livelihood security in many parts of South Asia and its contribution to poverty alleviation is substantial. The complex nature of ground water problems in the Indian Sub-continent requires a precise delineation of the ground water regimes in different hydro geological settings and socio-economic conditions and is a primary necessity for sustainable and equitable management. Strategies to respond to ground water over-exploitation and deteriorating water quality must be based on a new approach. Practical policies and various solution options urgently need to be formulated and implemented to prevent the development problems.

S. P. Sinha Ray has been a member of Central Ground Water Board and Central Ground Water Authority, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. He has more than 40 years of experience in groundwater exploration, development and management. By virtue of his long association with the country’s apex organization dealing with groundwater resources, he has acquired substantial expertise in the field. Besides having a vast knowledge of the subject within the country, he has also gained insights and know-how in other countries like Algeria, Bangladesh, the USA, Korea, Zimbabwe and Japan. He is a Fellow of West Bengal Academy of Science, a Member, International Association of Hydrogeologists and Emeritus President, Centre for Ground Water Studies, Kolkata.