JALDOOT App
Source: PIB
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies; GS III: Food and Agriculture
What is discussed under JALDOOT App?
- What is JALDOOT App?
- Groundwater Depletion in India
Why in News?
The ‘JALDOOT App and JALDOOT App e-brochure’ were introduced by the Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel to enable monitoring of groundwater tables across the country.
What is JALDOOT App?
About the App
- The JALDOOT app was created in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
- This app will be used across the country to record the water level of a village’s selected 2-3 wells.
- Water levels in open wells will be manually monitored twice a year, from 1st May to 31st May for pre-monsoon water levels and from 1st October to 31st October for post-monsoon water levels for the same well.
- Jaldoots, or policemen tasked with measuring water levels, should also upload geo-tagged images via the app on each occasion of measurement.
Significance
- This mobile app can be used both online and offline.
Photo by Niklas Hamann on Unsplash - So, the water level may be taken even without internet access, and acquired data is kept in the mobile
- The data will be synchronised with the central server when the mobile enters a connectivity region.
- The Jaldoots’ regular data entry would be merged with the National Water Informatics Centre’s (NWIC) database, which could be used for analysis and display of different helpful reports for the benefit of various stakeholders.
- JALDOOT’s online portal offers water level reports, monsoon reports, and registered user reports.
- The app will aid in the observation of water tables around the country, and the generated data may be used for Gram Panchayat Development Plans and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Plans.
Groundwater Depletion in India
- 85% of India’s rural and 50% of its urban populations rely on groundwater to meet their requirements.
- Groundwater levels are dropping in numerous sections of northern India, particularly in densely populated areas.
- The quality of groundwater levels in India has declined as groundwater levels have decreased.
Causes
- Excessive pumping of water from the ground
- Increasing population
- uneven rainfall
- climate change
- Deforestation
Implications
- Lowering of the water table
- Reduction of water in streams and lakes
- Subsidence of land
- Increased cost for water extraction
- Contamination of groundwater
- Constraints in the food supply
- Limitations to biodiversity and creation of sinkholes
Recommendations
- Routine survey at regular intervals
- Assessment of land use pattern
- Changes in farming methods
- Reforms in power supply subsidies for agriculture
- Monitoring groundwater extraction
- Preventing groundwater pollution
- The synergy between Central, State and Local governments
- Water to be brought under Concurrent List
- Conservation of water bodies
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