Utilisation of Ground water Resource

Using a simple regression model, this paper investigates the influence of rainfall and rural electrification programme on the rate of utilisation of groundwater potential. It is found that an increase in village electrification by one percentage point may result, on the average, in an increase of half to two- thirds of a percentage point in the rate of utilisation of groundwater potential. The impact is likely to he greater if rural electrification is undertaken in low rainfall and semi-arid areas, because the rate of utilisation and rainfall are negatively related with each other. For investment in rural electrification in high rainfall areas to have the maximum impact, it is necessary to simultaneously strengthen agricultural extension services, long and short-term credit institutions, land consolidation work and other land reform measures.