Declining groundwater levels in India

The decline of groundwater levels in India by 5-10 m is usually explained as a result of the increased number of tubewells and a decline in average annual rainfall. This article argues that the decline is the product of the destruction of indigenous systems for storing runoff water, which are essential because rainy days are very few and erratic. Futher, the disbanding of organizations concerned with indigenous systems for the management of natural resources, especially catchment areas, has weakened the ability to retain rainwater beyond the rainy season - another factor in the decline of India's groundwater levels.