Srinagar, June 25: Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting of the Union Territory Level Coordination Committee (UTLC) to review the assessment of groundwater resources across Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2026 and emphasised scientific, data-driven management to ensure long-term water security.
The meeting, convened by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), marked the commencement of the annual Groundwater Resource Assessment (GWRA-2026) exercise. It was attended by senior officials of the CGWB, Secretary Technical Jal Shakti Department Manoj Gupta, Chief Engineers of the PHE and Irrigation & Flood Control Departments, besides representatives of various stakeholder departments.
During the meeting, the Committee discussed groundwater resource assessment, inter-departmental coordination, data sharing, and implementation of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM). Officials reviewed the roadmap for assessing dynamic groundwater resources across 149 assessment units in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed timely sharing, validation and integration of data to ensure accurate scientific assessment.
On the occasion, Shaleen Kabra released two important publications prepared by the Central Ground Water Board — National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India–2025 and Dynamic Ground Water Resources of Jammu & Kashmir–2025.
The reports provide updated information on groundwater availability, extraction and sustainability, and are expected to serve as key reference documents for evidence-based planning, groundwater conservation and sustainable management of water resources across the Union Territory.
The meeting also reviewed findings of aquifer management studies conducted in parts of Kathua district and discussed proposed NAQUIM studies in the Jammu Urban Agglomeration and selected areas of Anantnag and Rajouri districts to strengthen scientific understanding and conservation of groundwater systems.
Addressing the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary underscored the importance of scientific groundwater assessment, enhanced inter-departmental coordination and sustainable groundwater management practices to safeguard Jammu and Kashmir’s water resources and ensure long-term water security for future generations. (KNC)
