Jammu and Kashmir begins groundwater resource assessment as key sustainability reports are released
SRINAGAR, June 25: Additional Chief Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department Shaleen Kabra chaired a meeting of the Union Territory Level Coordination Committee convened to assess the groundwater resource potential in Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2026.
Organised by the Central Ground Water Board, the meeting marked the commencement of the annual Groundwater Resource Assessment exercise and reviewed ongoing groundwater management initiatives across the Union Territory.
Detailed deliberations were held on groundwater resource assessment, inter-departmental coordination, data sharing, and the implementation of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme.
The committee reviewed the roadmap for assessing dynamic groundwater resources across 149 assessment units in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed the need for timely sharing, validation, and integration of data by all stakeholder departments to ensure an accurate and scientific assessment.
During the event, the Additional Chief Secretary released two significant publications of the Central Ground Water Board, including the National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India – 2025 and the Dynamic Ground Water Resources of Jammu & Kashmir – 2025. These publications provide an updated assessment of groundwater availability, extraction, and sustainability parameters to serve as reference documents for evidence-based planning, conservation, and sustainable management.
The meeting also reviewed the findings of aquifer management studies conducted in parts of Kathua district and discussed proposed studies in the Jammu Urban Agglomeration and selected areas of Anantnag and Rajouri districts to enhance the scientific understanding of groundwater systems.
Addressing the gathering, the Additional Chief Secretary underscored the critical importance of scientific groundwater assessment, coordinated inter-departmental efforts, and the adoption of sustainable practices to safeguard water resources and ensure long-term water security.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Central Government Water Board, Secretary Technical Manoj Gupta, Chief Engineers of Public Health Engineering and Irrigation & Flood Control Departments, alongside representatives of other stakeholder departments.