Dark zone areas in Haryana
16 of 22 districts in Haryana pumped out more groundwater than was recharged in 2025 (over-exploited, the "dark zone"). 1 more was critical and 2 semi-critical. Across the state, 137% of the extractable groundwater was used.
Over-exploited districts (16)
Stage of extraction above 100% in 2025.
Critical districts (1)
Stage of extraction 90–100% in 2025.
Semi-critical districts (2)
Stage of extraction 70–90% in 2025.
Getting worse fastest
Rise in stage of extraction since 2017, in percentage points.
- Mahendragarh: 94% in 2017 to 157% in 2025
- Faridabad: 126% in 2017 to 175% in 2025
- Rewari: 91% in 2017 to 133% in 2025
- Panipat: 188% in 2017 to 218% in 2025
- Ambala: 101% in 2017 to 130% in 2025
What a dark zone means for you
Borewells go deeper every few years and some run dry in summer. New groundwater use for business needs a CGWA NOC with recharge conditions. The fix is to put rain back: at 700 mm of rain a year, a 100 m² house roof recharges about 60,000 litres.
Frequently asked questions
Which areas of Haryana are in the dark zone?
In CGWB's 2025 assessment, 16 of 22 districts in Haryana were over-exploited (dark zone): Kurukshetra, Panipat, Kaithal, Gurugram, Fatehabad, Faridabad, Karnal, Sirsa, Mahendragarh, Charkhi Dadri, Yamuna Nagar, Rewari and 4 more.
Is Haryana's groundwater over-exploited overall?
The state pumped out 137% of its extractable groundwater in 2025, which CGWB classes as over-exploited.
Can I get a new borewell in a dark zone of Haryana?
Homes usually can, with local registration; some cities restrict new borewells. Industry, infrastructure, mining and commercial users need a Central Ground Water Authority NOC, which in over-exploited areas carries tighter limits and recharge conditions.
Source: CGWB Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment 2025, district figures. CGWB classifies blocks (assessment units); a district's figure is the average of its blocks, so a district shown here as safe can still contain over-exploited blocks.