Groundwater Management in India: Tamil Nadu State Report

Tamil Nadu is facing a serious groundwater crisis due to over-extraction, climate change, and poor water management. The state uses 82.9% of its available groundwater annually, putting it among the most water-stressed states in India. Irrigation alone consumes 92% of the total groundwater, causing water tables to drop drastically in many areas, especially in northern and western districts. Despite multiple laws and policies, regulation is weak, and recharge efforts are falling short. However, community-driven initiatives like Wake Our Lakes and KAIFA have shown that local participation and traditional water conservation methods can help restore groundwater levels.

Tamil Nadu gets 650-850 mm of rainfall each year, yet water scarcity is growing because of increased borewell dependency and the decline of traditional water bodies like lakes and tanks. The Cauvery Delta, once known as the “Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu,” now suffers from severe groundwater depletion. Meanwhile, districts like Salem, Namakkal, and Krishnagiri are seeing alarming drops in water levels and worsening water quality.

The study highlights major policy failures, including outdated groundwater laws, weak enforcement, and lack of coordination between government agencies. The Chennai Metropolitan Area Groundwater Regulation Act (1987) was a step in the right direction, but its impact has been limited. The most promising solutions come from the people—grassroots efforts to restore lakes, improve rainwater harvesting, and manage water use more efficiently.

Tamil Nadu needs stronger laws, better water pricing, crop diversification, and large-scale rainwater harvesting. More importantly, communities must be involved in managing their local water resources. By combining modern technology with traditional wisdom, Tamil Nadu can protect its groundwater and secure a sustainable water future.

Keywords:  Groundwater Management, Tamil Nadu, Water Conservation, Aquifer Recharge, Over-extraction, Sustainable Water Use, Cauvery Delta, Climate Change, Participatory Water Governance, Groundwater Policies