Groundwater report waters down aquifer-level data, say experts

Assessment units too large in size and too few in number to present micro-level picture, they say

The latest groundwater data showing an increase in recharge and a decrease in extraction may not be offering an accurate representation, observe water experts, since the assessment units are too large in size and too few in number to present a micro-level picture.  

The Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India 2022 report said the total annual groundwater recharge for the country this year has increased by 1.29 billion cubic metres (bcm), in contrast with the last assessment conducted in 2020.

The total annual extractable groundwater resources have also increased by 0.56 bcm. 

The annual groundwater extraction for irrigation, domestic, and industrial