世界发展银行-Managing-Groundwater-for-Drought-Resilience-in-South-Asia_91页_7mb

Summary: Managing Groundwater for Drought Resilience in South Asia

Core Content

This document explores the role of groundwater in enhancing drought resilience and climate adaptation in South Asia, a region characterized by significant water scarcity and rapid population growth. It highlights the critical importance of groundwater in supporting agriculture, rural development, and urban water supply, and underscores the need for improved governance and management practices to ensure its sustainability.

Main Points

1. Water Scarcity and Population Growth

• South Asia is one of the most water-scarce regions globally, with an average water endowment of 1,100 cubic meters per person per year from 2013–2017, significantly lower than Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The region is projected to grow from 1.8 billion to 2.3 billion people by 2050, increasing water demand for irrigation, industry, and households by 17–24% compared to 2010.
• Droughts are frequent and have catastrophic impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations dependent on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture.

2. Groundwater's Role in the Region

• Groundwater is the dominant water source in rural areas and a key component of urban water supply.
• It supports irrigated agriculture, which is vital for the region's economy and food security.
• Groundwater provides a reliable buffer during droughts, as it is less affected by seasonal variability than surface water.

3. Climate Change and Drought Vulnerability

• South Asia's climate is highly variable, with a strong dependency on monsoonal rainfall and glacier-fed rivers.
• The region is vulnerable to climate change due to exposure to rising sea levels, storm surges, and limited adaptive capacity.
• Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of droughts, necessitating stronger groundwater management strategies.

4. Groundwater Governance Challenges

• Groundwater governance in South Asia is weak, with inadequate legislation, limited institutional capacity, and insufficient data availability.
• Policies such as farm subsidies for water-intensive crops and subsidized electricity have led to overpumping of groundwater.
• There is a lack of regional cooperation and comprehensive legal frameworks for managing shared groundwater resources, especially transboundary aquifers.

5. Management Interventions and Case Studies

• Various interventions are being implemented to manage groundwater more effectively, including participatory management, managed aquifer recharge, smart metering, and conjunctive use of water resources.
• Case studies from different parts of South Asia, such as Andhra Pradesh, Bhuj, and Bangladesh, demonstrate the potential of community-led and institutional approaches to groundwater management.
• These interventions are tailored to specific hydrogeological and socioeconomic contexts and require local participation and scaling up.

6. Recommendations

• No Silver Bullets: There is no single solution to groundwater governance challenges; a multifaceted approach is necessary.
• Scale Matters: Groundwater management strategies must be scaled up to national and regional levels.
• Stakeholder Participation: Engaging local communities and government institutions is essential for effective governance.
• Groundwater Quality: Contamination and overuse are major threats that must be addressed.
• Legal and Policy Reforms: Strengthening laws and policies to support sustainable use and reduce perverse incentives.
• Institutional Capacity Building: Enhancing the capacity of relevant government bodies to manage groundwater effectively.
• Data Collection: Acquiring and curating regional and national groundwater data for informed decision-making.
• Regional Cooperation: Encouraging collaboration across borders for the sustainable management of shared aquifers.
• Cross-Sectoral Approach: Integrating groundwater management into broader development and climate adaptation strategies.
• New Research: Investing in research to better understand and protect groundwater resources.
• Communication: Raising awareness among non-traditional stakeholders about the importance of groundwater.

Key Information

• Groundwater Usage: South Asia accounts for about one-third of all global groundwater extraction.
• Drought Impacts: Droughts have severe socioeconomic and environmental consequences, especially for poor and marginalized communities.
• Climate Vulnerability: The region's reliance on monsoonal rainfall and glacier melt makes it highly vulnerable to climate change.
• Data Gaps: Many countries lack comprehensive groundwater data, hindering effective management.
• Transboundary Issues: While agreements exist for river systems, groundwater management across borders remains underdeveloped.
• Technological and Policy Innovations: Solar irrigation pumps, managed aquifer recharge, and participatory groundwater management are emerging as promising tools.

Conclusion

Groundwater is a vital resource for South Asia's development and climate resilience. To ensure its continued role, the region must adopt a robust governance framework, improve data collection, and enhance cooperation across sectors and borders. Effective management of groundwater is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the context of increasing water demand and climate change impacts.

Structure of the Report

1. Introduction

• Background: Overview of South Asia's water scarcity and population growth.
• Report Objective and Approach: Diagnostic study to assess groundwater governance pathways and options for drought resilience.

2. Climate, Drought, and Climate Change in South Asia

• Climate: Diverse topography and climate patterns.
• Drought-Prone Areas: Geographic distribution and impacts.
• Climate Change: Effects on water availability and management.

3. Overview of Groundwater in South Asia

• Hydrogeology: Major aquifer systems and their characteristics.
• Groundwater Use: Trends and significance in irrigation and urban supply.
• Groundwater as a Buffer: Role in mitigating drought impacts.
• Climate Change and Groundwater: Interaction between climate change and groundwater availability.

4. Groundwater Governance in South Asia

• Fragmented Institutional Mandates: Challenges in coordination and enforcement.
• Legal Frameworks: Weaknesses and the need for reform.
• Data and Science: Importance of reliable groundwater data for management.
• Policy Advances: Recent developments and gaps.

5. Distilling Challenges and Identifying Options

• Challenges: Overexploitation, contamination, and governance gaps.
• Intervention Options: Techniques such as managed aquifer recharge and conjunctive use.
• Analytical Framework: Methodology for evaluating interventions.
• Adaptive Learning: Importance of continuous learning and adjustment.

6. Local Experiences with Interventions: Case Studies

• Andhra Pradesh: Community-based groundwater management.
• Bhuj, India: Urban community-led initiatives.
• Four Indian States: Large-scale recharge programs.
• North Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh: Flood and drought management.
• Pakistan: Conjunctive water management in mega irrigation areas.
• Bangladesh: Pro-poor well development and traditional Karez systems.
• Eastern Gangetic Plains: Solar irrigation pumps for poverty alleviation.

7. Conclusions and Recommendations

• Key Recommendations: Focus on governance, data, policy, and regional cooperation.

Abbreviations

• APFAMGS: Andhra Pradesh Farmer-Managed Groundwater Systems
• BMDA: Barind Multipurpose Development Authority
• BJs: Bhujal Jankaars
• DTW: Deep tubewell
• EM-DAT: Emergency Events Database
• FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• GBM: Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna
• GDP: Gross Domestic Product
• GRACE: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
• HLPW: High-Level Panel on Water
• IBIS: Indus Basin Irrigation System
• IGB: Indo-Gangetic Basin
• IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• IWMI: International Water Management Institute
• MAR: Managed Aquifer Recharge
• Mha: Million Hectares
• MJSA: Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan
• NAQUIM: National Aquifer Mapping and Management Program
• NCT: National Capital Territory (of Delhi)
• NDVI: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
• NGO: Non-Governmental Organization
• PCRWR: Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources
• PGM: Participatory Groundwater Management
• SAWI: South Asia Water Initiative
• SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals
• SIP: Solar Irrigation Pump
• STW: Shallow tubewell
• TDS: Total Dissolved Solids
• UN: United Nations
• UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• UTFI: Underground Transfer of Floods for Irrigation
• WHO: World Health Organization
• WRM: Water Resource Management
• WWAP: UN World Water Assessment Program

Figures and Maps

• Map 2.1: Distribution of Mean Annual Rainfall in South Asia

• Map 2.2: Distribution of Mean Temperature in South Asia

• Map 3.1: Major Aquifer Systems of South Asia

• Map 3.2: Distribution of Groundwater Recharge Across South Asia

• Map 3.3: Water Table Trends in the Indo-Gangetic Basin

• Map B6.6.1: Lakhaoti Branch Canal, Uttar Pradesh, India, Showing Post Monsoon Depth to Groundwater Before and After Recharge Management

• Figure 2.1: Social and Economic Effects of Drought across South Asia from 1967–2015

• Figure 3.1: Expansion in Groundwater Use in Some South Asian Countries

• Figure 3.2: Contributions of Canals, Wells, and Other Water Sources to South Asian Irrigation, 1800–2000

• Figure 3.3: Comparison of Effects of Hydrological Drought

• Figure 5.1: Aquifer Systems in South Asia, Grouped According to Storage and Response Characteristics

• Figure 5.2: Analytical Framework for Case Studies

References and Appendices

• References: Includes studies and reports from various organizations, such as the World Bank, FAO, and UNESCO.
• Appendix A: Lists case studies prepared for this report, including detailed analyses from different regions.

This report is part of the South Asia Water Initiative (SAWI) and emphasizes the need for integrated, participatory, and sustainable groundwater management to address the growing challenges of climate change and water scarcity in the region.