India is witnessing a solar-powered revolution in farming. By 2026, over 3 million farmers will use solar-powered pumps for irrigation. This technology provides virtually free water in almost unlimited quantities, transforming lives and boosting crop production. However, this boon has a downside. The desert state of Rajasthan, the pioneer of this revolution, has seen water tables fall rapidly due to increased water use. The underground rocks are now dry down to 400 feet, the effective extraction limit of the pumps. This overuse of groundwater reserves, or aquifers, is not just a local issue. Solar pumps are spreading across water-starved regions in India, Africa, and elsewhere, threatening the viability of many aquifers already at risk of running dry. This environmental time bomb, initially seen as a way to reduce fossil-fuel consumption and help farmers prosper, is rapidly becoming a major concern.
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