Groundwater table in every fifth well (20%) in the state has gone below the alarming level of 40 metres, making it largely unfit for drinking. The water below 40 metres contains sulphur, chlorine and fluoride more than the permissible limit, posing Health hazards when consumed constantly.
Ministry of Jal Shaktis latest groundwater report on Rajasthan 2019-2020 says that five districts had more than 40% of their wells recording water level below 40 metres in January 2020. The figure comes in stark contrast with the fact that annual rainfall in the state increased by 29.5% in 2019 from 2010-2018 (Average).
Jhunjhunu is leading, with 91% of the wells that had gone 40m and above in January 2020 (post monsoon) while in monsoon, the arid city received 32.81% more rain than the previous years. The report says that Jaipur alone had 41% of the wells with water table below 40 metres, despite receiving 744MM rain, which was 29.21% more than the average of the previous 8 years. Experts have said that wells are being overused and are thus not recharged even after sufficient rain.