The government of India has approached the issue of declining groundwater level largely through regulatory means. Following the recommendation of the water policy the central government drafted a model bill for regulating over exploitation of groundwater and made it available to the States for implementation.
The model bill laid foundation for the states to establish Groundwater Authority. It is very vital to control and regulate groundwater development, implement groundwater recharge structures and take penal action against those not following the regulations.
Andhra Pradesh has adopted a novel approach to the problem of depletion of groundwater. The core concept of the Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater System Project (APFAMGS) is that sustainable management of groundwater is feasible only if users understand its occurrence, cycle, and limited availability.
To achieve this end, the project has engaged farmers in data collection and analysis, building their understanding of the dynamics and status of groundwater in the local aquifers.
The organizational component of the project is the groundwater management committee, a village-level community based institution comprising all groundwater users in a community. Data gathered through hydrological monitoring of rainfall and groundwater levels are used to estimate the crop water budget.
As part of DSGM farmers adopted various strategies for getting the same or greater benefits from pumping less water from the ground. The farmers have demonstrated in several villages that groundwater use can be reduced appreciably through relatively simple practices at the farm level and by adopting new water saving techniques.
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