IMPACT OF GROUNDWATER DEPLETION ON SOCIOECONOMIC LIVELIHOOD IN NUSHKI DISTRICT, BALOCHISTAN

Abstract

Groundwater depletion is a major issue in Nushki District, Balochistan, where arid climatic conditions and insufficient water management have resulted in significant socio-economic impacts on the local communities. This paper examines the causes and consequences of groundwater depletion in the region, using a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates remote sensing data from GRACE and GRACE-FO satellites alongside qualitative socio-economic assessments to demonstrate how over-extraction and the proliferation of unregulated tubewells have contributed to falling aquifer levels, forcing farmers to switch from high-value crops to less profitable drought-resistant varieties, leading to increased economic instability and food insecurity, as well as exacerbating gender inequalities and increasing household vulnerabilities by burdening women with water collection and agricultural management when male labor is no longer available. This research underscores the necessity for stronger governance frameworks for sustainable groundwater management, community resilience, and gender equality, highlighting the importance of integrated water and energy policies, as well as participatory approaches to local governance in order to counteract the negative impacts of groundwater depletion in Nushki District