Read the following passage and answer the question.
Given the precarious condition of its ground and surface water resources (rivers, stream, lakes, wetlands and reservoirs). India could be a water-scarce country in the next 40 years. With 1,486 cubic meters (∼1.5 million litres) of water available per person, per annum. India falls in the water stressed category. A dip below 1000 cubic meters per person, per annum will push it into the waterscarce category.
The manner of water consumption also compounds the problem. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) statistics show the indiscriminate use of ground water turned 4% of the total 7,809 assessed units in the country critical in 2022 while 14% were assessed as over-exploited. The situation was worse in 2017 when 17% of the units overexploited. Various recharge and conservation efforts have borne fruit but the number of such units remain high in state like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
In India, 87% of groundwater is extracted for irrigation and experts say excess withdrawal round the year may be the biggest reason for depletion, as the recharge primarily happens in the monsoon. On the other hand encroachment of water bodies and the discharge of untreated waster water into rivers and streams have reduced the surface water resources.
Which of the following states have been found to be have high number of over exploited units of ground water?
(A) Rajasthan and Delhi
(B) Punjab & Haryana
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Tamil Nadu & Karnataka
(E) Madhya Pradesh
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Correct Answer :
A, B & D only
Solution :
The correct option is A, B & D only.
Let us analyze the passage step-by-step to understand why this option is correct:
1. Locate the paragraph in the passage that discusses groundwater recharge and conservation efforts.
2. The second paragraph states: "Various recharge and conservation efforts have borne fruit but the number of such units remain high in state like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka."
3. Let us map the states mentioned to the given lettered options:
- (A) Rajasthan and Delhi: Both are explicitly listed as states/UTs with high numbers.
- (B) Punjab & Haryana: Both are explicitly listed.
- (C) Uttar Pradesh: This state is not mentioned in the passage.
- (D) Tamil Nadu & Karnataka: Both are explicitly listed.
- (E) Madhya Pradesh: This state is not mentioned in the passage.
Therefore, only the states under categories (A), (B), and (D) are identified by the passage as having a high number of these units. This directly corresponds to the option A, B & D only.
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