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Groundwater · Uttar Pradesh · 2025

Dark zone areas in Uttar Pradesh

4 of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh pumped out more groundwater than was recharged in 2025 (over-exploited, the "dark zone"). 7 more were critical and 25 semi-critical. Across the state, 70% of the extractable groundwater was used.

Groundwater in Uttar PradeshRainwater harvesting rules

Over-exploited districts (4)

Stage of extraction above 100% in 2025.

  1. 1Ghaziabad124%
  2. 2Agra111%
  3. 3Gautam Buddh Nagar105%
  4. 4Shamli101%

Critical districts (7)

Stage of extraction 90–100% in 2025.

  1. 1Firozabad99%
  2. 2Saharanpur97%
  3. 3Bagpat96%
  4. 4Hapur94%
  5. 5Bulandshahar93%
  6. 6Amroha93%
  7. 7Hathras91%

Semi-critical districts (25)

Stage of extraction 70–90% in 2025.

  1. 1Varanasi89%
  2. 2Mahoba89%
  3. 3Sambhal87%
  4. 4Moradabad86%
  5. 5Lalitpur83%
  6. 6Chitrakoot81%
  7. 7Kaushambi81%
  8. 8Aligarh80%
  9. 9Muzaffarnagar80%
  10. 10Budaun79%
  11. 11Kannauj79%
  12. 12Meerut79%
  13. 13Kanpur Nagar79%
  14. 14Pratapgarh76%
  15. 15Sant Ravidas Nagar75%
  16. 16Farrukhabad74%
  17. 17Prayagraj73%
  18. 18Mainpuri73%
  19. 19Fatehpur72%
  20. 20Bareilly72%
  21. 21Kanpur Dehat71%
  22. 22Etah71%
  23. 23Mathura71%
  24. 24Rampur71%
  25. 25Jaunpur70%

Getting worse fastest

Rise in stage of extraction since 2017, in percentage points.

  • Kannauj: 67% in 2017 to 79% in 2025
  • Aligarh: 69% in 2017 to 80% 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.

Rainwater harvesting cost in GhaziabadBorewell rechargeRecharge pit calculator

Frequently asked questions

Which areas of Uttar Pradesh are in the dark zone?

In CGWB's 2025 assessment, 4 of 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh were over-exploited (dark zone): Ghaziabad, Agra, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Shamli.

Is Uttar Pradesh's groundwater over-exploited overall?

The state pumped out 70% of its extractable groundwater in 2025, which CGWB classes as safe.

Can I get a new borewell in a dark zone of Uttar Pradesh?

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. Under the UP Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Act, 2019, commercial, industrial and infrastructure users (RO plants, hotels, hospitals, malls) need an NOC/registration via upgwdonline.in. Penalties are Rs 2-5 lakh and/or 6 months-1 year in jail (Section 39). Domestic borewell rules were not confirmed.

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.