Jharkhand is set to step up efforts to conserve its groundwater in the coming year, with the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, municipal bodies, and local administrations working together to protect and maintain the state’s water reserves.
The state received monsoon rainfall 15 per cent above average, boosting its water reserves from 7,046 cubic metres to 8,000 cubic metres. Vinay Mishra, Assistant Consultant at the Central Ground Water Board, emphasised that to safeguard these reserves, the use of water from deep borewells for agricultural purposes must be curtailed.
He added that rainwater conservation measures will need to be intensified in 2026, with a focus on expanding catchment areas for ponds, as well as small and large dams. The central and state governments will collaborate to improve water recharge systems, ensuring sustained groundwater replenishment.
Retired Water Resources Department engineer Kushdhwaj Mahato highlighted the importance of temporary check dams in a plateau-rich state like Jharkhand. He said that, along with government efforts, private initiatives must also be encouraged to build such structures, with financial assistance provided to support these efforts.
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Mahato explained that Jharkhand experiences cycles of heavy rainfall every 10 to 15 years, making it crucial to conserve monsoon water and maintain groundwater reserves for periods of lower rainfall.
Officials said that these combined measures will help safeguard water resources, improve groundwater recharge, and ensure sustainable water availability across the state in 2026.