Scenario of groundwater exploitation in Punjab: Recent trends

Punjab's depleting water table is a cause of grave concern as it has caused water quality problems in Punjab. The study revealed the water table in all the districts of Punjab has been declining. The state has witnessed a fall in water table @ 0.43 metres per year during the last 22 years. The percentages of wells falling in the range of below 10 m showed a drastic decrease whereas the wells in range of above 10 m showed a tremendous increase for both the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon period. The districts where the scenario of high groundwater depletion is prominent are Sangrur, Patiala, Jalandhar, Moga and Barnala. The groundwater balance has decreased, turning the net groundwater availability to -14.58 bcm in 2017. The present stage of groundwater development has reached 166 per cent in the state. The percentage of over-exploited blocks has increased to 79 per cent with major districts of the state having 100 per cent fully over-exploited blocks. The total annual draft for Punjab has reached 35 bcm, which is higher than the sustainable limit of 20 bcm. The change in cropping pattern towards rice is primarily responsible for fall and over-exploitation of ground water in Punjab. Water-saving techniques like drip and sprinkler irrigation, construction ofponds, harvesting of rainwater, its management and efficient utilization can resolve the water scarcity problem to a greater extend in these exploited districts.