State PCS - Haryana (HCS)

• 06 May 2025

Water Resource Atlas 2025

Why in News? 

The Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority (HWRA) has launched the Haryana Water Resource Atlas 2025- an AI-powered geospatial platform that monitors, manages, and conserves the state’s rapidly depleting water reserves. 

 Key Points 

• Key Features of the Atlas: 
  • HWRA developed the atlas in collaboration with the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC). 
  • The platform is publicly accessible and provides real-time, layered insights on: 
    • Groundwater levels and aquifers 
    • Surface water bodies and canal systems 
    • Recharge zones and water-intensive cropping patterns 
  • It offers interactive thematic maps and dashboards. 
  • It tracks district and block-level water stress, with a focus on over-extraction zones and areas facing erratic rainfall. 
• Urgency Behind the Initiative: 
  • Internal assessments reveal that over 76% of Haryana’s administrative blocks are either “critical” or “over-exploited” in terms of groundwater use. 
  • The platform aims to enable data-driven interventions at both administrative and grassroots levels. 
• Data Scope and Update Cycle: 
  • Most core datasets (like groundwater depth and soil composition) won’t be revised annually. 
  • Such parameters typically require updates once in a decade, making the platform low-maintenance in terms of data renewal. 
  • The atlas integrates data from: 
    • Satellite observations and GPS surveys 
    • Meteorological inputs and agriculture records 
    • Inputs from Central Groundwater Board (CGWB), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Irrigation Department, and Agriculture Department. 
  • The National and State-level agencies have validated the data to ensure accuracy and operational relevance. 

 Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)  

• About: The CGWB, established under the Ministry of Water Resources, (now Ministry of Jal Shakti), is the apex body for managing, exploring, monitoring, assessing, and regulating groundwater resources in India.   
  • Established in 1970, CGWB was initially formed by renaming the Exploratory Tube Wells Organization and was later merged with the Ground Water Wing of the Geological Survey of India in 1972.  
  • The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), constituted under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, regulates groundwater development to ensure its sustainability.  
• Key Functions and Responsibilities: CGWB provides scientific expertise for groundwater management, including exploration, monitoring, and water quality assessments.   
  • It also implements schemes for artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting to augment groundwater levels.  
• Scientific Reports: CGWB releases State and District hydrogeological reports, ground water year books and Atlases. 

 India Meteorological Department (IMD) 

• About: 
  • It is the National Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects. 
  • It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. 
• Objectives: 
  • To take meteorological observations and to provide current and forecast meteorological information for optimum operation of weather-sensitive activities like agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, offshore oil explorations, etc. 
  • To warn against severe weather phenomena like tropical cyclones, norwesters, duststorms, heavy rains and snow, cold and heat waves, etc., which cause destruction of life and property. 
  • To provide meteorological statistics required for agriculture, water resource management, industries, oil exploration and other nation-building activities. 
  • To conduct and promote research in meteorology and allied disciplines.