About Us

        The Ground Water Department started as an independent department in the year 1956 with an objective of monitoring, exploration and management of ground water resources in the state. The Department is  nodal department in the state for all kind of ground water related activities eg ground water  resource evaluation, survey and investigation, drilling of deep tube wells, ground water quality monitoring, gw source development, technical assistance for artificial recharge structures, rain water harvesting structures etc. The Department is multidisciplinary in nature and has  Mechanical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Hydrogeologists, Geophysicists, Chemists, Hydrometeorologists and skilled Technical staff

At the time of start, the department had 33 Compressors, 5 Percussion rigs, one Rotary drilling rig, one welding set, 14 trucks, 7 jeeps, 2 mobile workshops, 2 blasting units, one water tanker, one lathe machine and one drill machine. The department with paltry resources started the challenging work of deepening of wells by blasting and drilling of tube-wells for the common mass, in areas, where such  works otherwise were not possible due to presence of hard rocks. I brought out the precious water concealed below the earth for drinking purpose and also contributed towards the “Green Revolution”. The department experimented, from time to time, the work of drilling of tube-wells and deepening of well by blasting with variety of machines. The department purchased appropriate drilling rigs, imperative for drilling of tube-wells in areas, onerous to approach and availed water for drinking to habitat.

            First time, the department in 1975-76, purchased DTH rigs for drilling in hard and compact rocks. As on today, Department has 3 Heavy Duty imported drilling rigs along with one indigenous rig for drilling of tube-wells. These rigs have dexterity of drilling to 350M in hard and compact rocks. In the beginning phase of the department, the competent engineers and scientists of the department did commendable job of drilling and blasting in cumbersome areas of the state. In 1970-71, undertook the work of drilling in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and West - Bengal, thereby highlighting the name of the department on the national platform. Apart from deepening of wells, the department contributed towards other activities lucrative to state such as, construction of roads, dams and canals by removal of rocks hindering the works. Namely, during construction of Mahi Dam and canals where removal of rocks was highly dangerous and needed extreme caveat, there too our technical experts performed their duties like warriors and completed the task. Discharging their duties, a number of our technical officials sacrificed their lives.

            The department was established in 1956, with the work of drilling and blasting. Looking to meager availability of surface water, small and inferior quality of ground water in tube-well and escalating cost of tube-wells on account of failure of tube-wells, need for systematic and scientific investigation for ground water was felt. Consequently proposal for scientific exploration, dividing the entire state in 12 blocks was placed before the Government, which was later on sanctioned by the Central Government in two phases, The Fourth and The Fifth five year plan. In 1966 the work of survey and Research formally started and requisite engineering, scientific and technical staff were appointed and necessary equipments were procured.

            The important work completed in seventies by the department was deepening of wells by blasting in the tribal habitats of districts Dungarpur and Banswara. For augmenting water supply to Jodhpur city from Ransigaon, for Bhilawara from Kankroliya Ghati, for Barmer from Bhadkha, for Udaipur from Jhamarkotra, for Nagaur from Khivnwsar-Khajwana, for Jaipur city from locally available ground water pockets, for Jaisalmer from Chandan and Lathi and similarly for other districts, suitable locations for drilling of tube-wells were scientifically indentified and drilling units constructed successful tube-wells which became mile stone in the development of the state.

            The department kept receiving financial grants through different sources from time to time and continued contributing towards prosperity of the state. Through Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), the department evaluated different scientific parameters through pumping test, provided them to the Planners which were used in the benefits of the public. Experimental tube-wells were constructed under this scheme in shallow and deep aquifers and different parameters viz. Specific yield and Safe Distances between two water extraction units were calculated.

            In 1980 decade, under ARC in selected Panchayat Samiti, assuming each Panchayat Samiti as a unit, detailed investigations were done, reports were prepared and submitted to NABARD. Based on these reports, standards were fixed by NABARD, for sanctioning of loans for construction of wells/tube-wells and other agricultural needs.

            In 1984, for proper Ground Water evaluation, indentified Ground Water Monitoring Stations (DKW) and started regular monitoring on this net work. First time in 1984 Ground Water Assessment Report was prepared on Ground Water Estimation Committee Guidelines (GEC Guidelines). Onward 1984, regular monitoring was done and such valuable data were compiled that no other state in India had done it before. Based on GEC Guidelines, ground water assessment report was prepared time to time which was used by state Planners from time to time in formulation of schemes.

            In 1981-82, Drilling & Hand pump division of Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) was established by transferring drilling machinery and equipments from GWD. The department  contributed in the Green Revolution of the state through investigation and exploitation of ground water in desert and hilly terrain. Due to liberalization and competition, several private agencies are in the market but they pose no challenge to me. The department has technical personnel with highly skilled competence who are able to drill tube–wells in difficult and even unapproachable places in Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Kokarliya Ghati of Bhilwara.

            The department extracted ground water for development of every corner of the state but due to astounding exploitation of ground water and habit of wasting water has lead the situation of ground water to a level of utter concern. In 2009, stage of ground water development was 35 % more than actual ground water recharge. In fact, ground water withdrawal more than actual annual recharge started from year 2001.People started using the STATIC GROUND WATER RESERVE from 2001. Thus, we ourselves are offering a difficult future to our coming generations. According to 2013 report, only 44 blocks are in safe category and 164 block in Over Exploited Category whereas in 1984 only 12 blocks were Over Exploited and 203 blocks were safe. Thus, from 1984 to 2013, we have brought the situation of ground water to everyone’s concern.

*  3 Blocks categorised as Saline

          The work of Aquifer Mapping was undertaken by the department through outsourcing under the financial assistance of European Union – State Partnership Programme (EU – SPP).

The department undertook the study of Artificial Recharge to ground water through people’s participation in three pilot areas of the state, Osian- mandor in Joshpur, khamnor in Rajsamand and Piprali in Sikar district.

 Research Design & Development (RD&D) wing of the department conducted the study to re-construct the probable course of the lost Vedic River Saraswati in the area of Jaisalmer, starting from Langtala-Ghotaru—Longewala-Tanot—Kishangarh-Dharmi Kho, under Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission. Geophysical and Hydrogeological studies, supported with exploratory drillings were done to delineate the probable course. Pollution study was conducted by RD&D in the river courses adjacent to Balotra of district Barmer, Pali and district Jodhpur where industrial affluent is discharged, polluting nearby ground water.

            The Department is multidisciplinary in nature and has Mechanical Engineers, Hydrogeologists, Geophysicists, Chemists, Hydrometeorologist and skilled Technical staff for handling drilling and blasting work. We have well equipped Central Workshop to repair drilling rigs and vehicles, Central Store for procurement of materials/spares, Chemical Laboratory for analysis of water samples, Geophysical Laboratory for maintenance and repair of sophisticated geophysical instruments and Data Storage and Processing Cell (DSPC) for processing and storage of all the Hydrogeological and Geophysical data.