India's groundwater reserves are shrinking at an alarming pace, and the warning signs are no longer limited to drought-prone regions. A new assessment by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has highlighted how urban expansion, intensive farming and climate pressures are simultaneously pushing several parts of the country towards a water crisis.
The Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment Report 2025 paints a concerning picture. Cities and states that have traditionally relied on underground aquifers are now extracting water faster than nature can replenish it.
The findings underline an uncomfortable reality. Groundwater can no longer be treated as an invisible and unlimited resource.
Hyderabad emerges as India's most stressed metro
Among major Indian cities, Hyderabad has become the biggest cause for concern.
The report identified 26 assessment units within Greater Hyderabad that have either entered the critical or over-exploited category, making it the country's most groundwater-stressed metropolitan region.
Experts attribute the problem to rapid urbanisation over the past decade. Large-scale construction activity, aggressive borewell drilling and inadequate rainwater harvesting systems have significantly reduced the city's ability to recharge its underground water reserves.
The problem extends beyond the city itself. Several assessment units across Telangana have also moved out of the safe category, indicating that water stress is becoming a state-wide issue rather than an urban anomaly.
Punjab's farming model is taking a toll
Punjab faces a different but equally serious challenge.
According to News 18, the state's groundwater depletion is closely tied to its agricultural practices. Water-intensive crops, particularly paddy cultivation, have led to excessive extraction over several decades.
Low rainfall, rising temperatures and declining natural recharge are further worsening the situation.
Punjab remains one of India's largest agricultural producers, but experts have repeatedly warned that the current model is unsustainable without significant diversification and improved irrigation efficiency.
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Maharashtra and Karnataka are already feeling the impact
According to News 18, the consequences of declining groundwater are becoming increasingly visible in other states as well.
In Maharashtra's Marathwada region, water scarcity is once again intensifying. Hundreds of water tankers have been deployed to supply drinking water as reservoirs, wells and traditional sources continue to dry up.
Karnataka is facing similar challenges.
Several hundred villages are already reporting drinking water shortages, forcing communities to depend heavily on private borewells and tanker supplies.
For many rural households, access to water is becoming more expensive and uncertain with each passing year.
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Conservation can no longer be optional
According to News 18, experts say solving the crisis will require multiple interventions happening simultaneously.
Rainwater harvesting systems need wider adoption; urban planning must prioritise groundwater recharge, and farmers will have to gradually shift towards less water-intensive crops.
Authorities also need stronger monitoring mechanisms to regulate excessive borewell usage.
The bigger message emerging from the report is that India's water crisis is no longer a future threat.
It is already unfolding across cities, villages and agricultural belts. Unless conservation efforts accelerate, many regions could find themselves battling severe shortages much sooner than expected.
