**Executive Summary**
This document addresses an unstarred question (No. 958) regarding the Central Ground Water Board's (CGWB) ability to assess the groundwater status in Kolkata. The question was answered on February 5, 2026. The response outlines the CGWB's activities in assessing groundwater resources, its limitations, and its efforts in Kolkata.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Groundwater Assessment:**
* The CGWB annually conducts Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessments nationwide, including in West Bengal, in coordination with state governments.
* The latest assessment report in 2025 categorized the Kolkata Municipal Corporation as a saline assessment unit.
* **State vs. Central Responsibilities:**
* Sustainable development and management of groundwater resources are primarily the responsibility of state governments.
* The Central Government facilitates the efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects.
* **CGWB Activities:**
* The CGWB, under the Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme, regularly undertakes activities related to groundwater resource exploration, monitoring, assessment, and management, including in Kolkata.
* Aquifer maps and management plans have been prepared for Kolkata under the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM).
* **Monitoring Stations:**
* The number of CGWB's groundwater monitoring stations in Kolkata has increased from 34 National Hydrograph Network Stations (NHNS) in 2022 to 56 in 2025.
* **Data Sharing:**
* Data generated from monitoring stations and study reports on aquifer mapping and management, which provides a detailed picture of ground water status of Kolkata, are shared with state/urban administrations and are available in the public domain.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)**
* **Impact:** Required to conduct annual Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessments and undertake regular activities related to groundwater management.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring and assessment activities, and provide technical and financial assistance to state governments.
**Stakeholder: State Governments (Specifically West Bengal)**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for sustainable development and management of groundwater resources, including monitoring and mapping.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with CGWB and other relevant agencies to implement groundwater management plans.
**Stakeholder: Kolkata City/Kolkata Municipal Corporation**
* **Impact:** The assessment of groundwater resources impacts the city's water management strategies.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the data and reports made available by CGWB for informed decision-making regarding groundwater management.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): National organization responsible for groundwater management, mentioned in the context of assessing groundwater status in Kolkata.
Kolkata: City in West Bengal, India, which is the primary location of concern regarding groundwater status.
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM): Program under which aquifer maps have been prepared for Kolkata city for groundwater management.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: Union Government Ministry responsible for water resources, under which the question was answered.
Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme: Scheme under which CGWB undertakes activities related to groundwater management, including in Kolkata.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 958
ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026
INABILITY OF CGWB TO ASSESS GROUNDWATER STATUS IN KOLKATA
958. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) was unable to determine
the status of the groundwater situation in Kolkata in its 2024 Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the reasons for the inability of CGWB to assess Kolkata’s groundwater status including constraints
related to confined aquifer systems, data scarcity and monitoring limitations;
(c) whether the Government proposes to initiate targeted studies, increase monitoring networks and conduct
detailed aquifer mapping in Kolkata to enable accurate assessment and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the timeframe within which a comprehensive and reliable groundwater status report for Kolkata is
expected to be available?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) annually conducts Dynamic Ground water Resource
Assessment of the entire country, including West Bengal, in co-ordination with the State governments. As
per the latest assessment report of 2025, in Kolkata district of West Bengal, there is only one Assessment
Unit, namely Kolkata Municipal Corporation, which has been categorized as Saline.
(c) & (d) Water being a State subject, sustainable development and management of groundwater resources,
including their monitoring and mapping, is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. However,
the Central Government facilitates the efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial
assistance through its various schemes and projects.
CGWB, under the Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme, undertakes regular
activities related to the exploration, monitoring, assessment, and management of groundwater resources
across the country, including Kolkata city.
Under the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), aquifer maps along
with aquifer-specific management plans have been prepared for Kolkata city, recommending suitable
interventions for sustainable groundwater management.
Moreover, CGWB’s groundwater monitoring stations in Kolkata have been systematically increased
over the years. From 34 National Hydrograph Network Stations (NHNS) during 2022, the numbers have
risen to 56 established NHNS stations in 2025.
The data generated through regular monitoring of such stations as well as study reports prepared for
aquifer mapping & management, which give a detailed picture of ground water status of Kolkata, are
regularly shared with concerned state/urban administrations and are also made available in the public
domain.
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