Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 17: Official data presented in the Rajya Sabha has revealed a sharp decline in groundwater availability in Kargil district in recent years, while the neighbouring district of Leh has largely maintained stable groundwater resources.
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According to information shared by the Ministry of Jal Shakti based on assessments by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the annual extractable groundwater resource in Kargil dropped significantly from 28.49 million cubic metres (MCM) in 2023 to about 14.05 MCM in 2025. The district had recorded 24.54 MCM in 2022, indicating that groundwater availability has nearly halved over the last two years.
In contrast, Leh has shown comparatively stable groundwater levels during the same period. The district reported 48.65 MCM in 2022 and 51.48 MCM in 2023, after which the availability stabilized at 46.63 MCM in both 2024 and 2025, reflecting relatively consistent groundwater resources.
The data highlights emerging disparities in groundwater availability within the Union Territory of Ladakh, particularly the decline in Kargil, which could have implications for drinking water supply and irrigation in the region.
The Government also informed Parliament that overall groundwater extraction in Ladakh remains moderate, with the stage of groundwater extraction estimated at 30.93 per cent as per the 2025 assessment. Out of 18 groundwater assessment units in Ladakh, 17 are categorized as ‘safe’, while one unit has been classified as ‘semi-critical’.
The Ministry also informed the House that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 201 out of 240 villages in Ladakh have been reported as ‘Har Ghar Jal’, while works are ongoing in the remaining villages to provide functional tap water connections to rural households.
On the issue of glacier monitoring, the Ladakh administration has informed that no study has been conducted so far on glacial retreat in the river basins of the region, including year-wise data on glacier area loss, changes in snow cover and spring discharge levels since 2021.
The Government further stated that Rs 2162.51 lakh has been allocated in Ladakh since 2022 for water conservation and recharge measures, of which Rs 1471.36 lakh has been utilised so far.
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