Sustainable Groundwater Governance in Haryana: Integrating Traditional Knowledge, Policy Interventions and Urban Water Management

Abstract

Groundwater is a critical resource supporting agricultural productivity, domestic water supply and economic development in India. But, rising reliance on groundwater has led to serious concerns about its sustainability over the long term. Haryana, which was a major contributor during Green Revolution in India is now facing heavy groundwater stress due to the combination of high farming intensity, rapid urbanisation, growing population and impacts of climate changes. This review paper discusses the issues of sustainable groundwater governance in Haryana by analysing research and policy works that were published from 2015 to 2025. This study looks at the background of India's groundwater crisis and discusses the main causes and effects of groundwater shortage in the state. Traditional systems to manage community water sources such as Johads has been discussed as to how they can be used for present-day groundwater recharge and conservation. This paper further analyses recent policies, institutional changes and urban water management strategies that are being developed to make groundwater usage more sustainable. The study reveals that groundwater depletion is an intricate socio-ecological problem and through a combination of technological interventions and regulatory measures alone, it is not possible to address it. Sustainable groundwater governance necessitates the use of a cohesive and flexible structure that blends in traditional ecological understanding, community involvement, scientific principles, strong institutions, demand management as well as water-sensitive urban planning. This kind of approach can strengthen resilience and help make sustainable management of groundwater resources in Haryana more effective in the face of growing environmental and developmental pressures.