Decadal Change in Ground Water Utilization Pattern in West Bengal, India

This research article is meant to highlight the topic present ground water utilization scenario of West Bengal, India. Contribution of irrigation structures for different minor irrigation censuses, irrigation potentiality, cropping pattern with the development of irrigation over time and the extent of use of ground water resources have included in the study. Secondary data on irrigation potentiality, cropping pattern, minor irrigation censuses over times has been assembled from Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) (Eastern Region), State water investigation directorate (SWID) and area on different crops is from the official statistics published time to time by public sources. In the study area, it has been found that utilizable water is much less than available water. The availability of surface water is more than groundwater. Gap between water demand and availability is more in southern districts of West Bengal. Per capita water available is decreasing as the population is increasing. In both the cases of culturable command area and gross irrigated area, irrigation through the surface water sources has shown negative growth rate.