The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), south eastern coastal region, has proposed to install additional sensors and digitise its groundwater monitoring system in Tamil Nadu over the next two years.
In 2024-25, the CGWB identified 395 of the total 1,202 assessment units in the State as over-exploited blocks where groundwater extraction exceeds annual groundwater recharge. Assessment units in Chennai, Vellore, Salem, Krishnagiri, Cuddalore, Tiruchi and Namakkal have been identified as over-exploited zones. While 482 units have been assessed as safe groundwater zones, 34, including Vedaranyam and Nagapattinam, as units with saline groundwater.
In a stakeholdersā meeting on dissemination of groundwater data and groundwater management plan held in the city on Friday, officials of CGWB discussed details on open access to groundwater data being generated and how the database can be used to prepare groundwater regulatory and recharge plans.
According to CGWB, Tamil Naduās stage of groundwater extraction stands at 73.50%, indicating that nearly three-fourths of the Stateās yearly extractable groundwater is already being used.
M. Sivakumar, Regional Director, CGWB, south eastern coastal region, said sensors to record water level and quality have been installed in 1,000 monitoring wells so far. āWe get six-hourly groundwater data from these wells. We plan to add sensors in 1,500 more monitoring wells to get real-time data,ā he said.
On the objective of the stakeholdersā meeting, he said the Board falling under the Ministry of Jal Shakti wanted to share groundwater data on over-exploited and critical blocks in the State that need projects for better management. Representatives from various government agencies, voluntary organisations and private sector were enlightened about the data available through the data portal of www.gwdata.cgwb.gov.in. There are plans to hold meetings for district collectors in the State.
Published ā November 22, 2025 07:03 am IST
