Report

The changing energy: Irrigation nexus in Eastern India

author(s) Kishore, Avinash
from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
permalink open
themes
regions
  • Southern Asia
  • Asia
  • World
citation

Kishore, Avinash, 'The changing energy: Irrigation nexus in Eastern India', International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC, 2019

Publications and datasets provided via GARDIAN

Abstract

States in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) of India have rich and stable groundwater endowments. According to the Central Groundwater Board, Bihar and West Bengal use only 40% of their total net annual groundwater availability (10.77 BCM of 27.42 BCM in Bihar and 11.65 BCM of 27.46 BCM in West Bengal). Annual withdrawal of groundwater for all uses is less than 40 percent of the total replenishable recharge in all blocks in Bihar and 90% of the blocks in West Bengal . Rather than reducing water use, state policies should be targeted towards sustainable development of water resources. Energy policies have an important role to play in this groundwater dependent region.

Open original