Abstract:
The availability of water depends on its supply and demand. Rainfall is the major source of water supply on the ground. Uncertainty and irregularity in the amount, frequency and distribution of rainfall has increased considerably in the last few years due to climate change. On the other hand with the increase in population, urbanization and industrialization and increasing living standards, the demand for water is increasing. The per capita water availability in India in the year 1951 was 6000 cubic meters per annum, which has been reduced to 5277 in the year 1955, 1970 in the year 1990, 1947 in the year 1999 and 1600 cubic meters in the year 2017. According to an estimate, in the year 2025, there will be 1350 cubic meter per capita water availability. Whereas an individual requires more than 1700 cubic meters of water per year on an average. With increasing living standards, per capita demand for water also increases. Per capita water availability is decreasing. Availability of ground water has increased in different districts in the year 2000 as compared to the year 1996 in the study area. In comparison to the year 2000, in the year 2004, ground water availability has decreased in 23 districts out of 27 districts. According to the year 1996, Gonda, the only district of the study area, had more than 8000 lakh cubic meters, the number of districts has increased to 8 in 2004 in this year. Thus there has been a steady increase in the amount of usage at district level. Problems related to ground water in the study area can be seen as a problem of overuse and pollution. It is necessary to conduct mass awareness programs for proper balanced use of ground water, awareness and promotion of research and research work to solve the arsenic problem in ground water.
