Engaging with the changing policy discourse to check groundwater depletion in Punjab

By using the primary data from 427farmers, this study examines the awareness about groundwater resources and legal literacy amongst the Punjab farmers and relates these to important parameters of adoption of water conservation and long-term sustainability of groundwater in Punjab. There was less awareness, especially amongst large farmers on groundwater depletion, its stock, its factors, role of community organizations and legal literacy on water. However, large the farmer, larger the adoption of water conservation practices due to their better incomes, risk taking capacity and their preference for new technologies and practices. Increased awareness and legal literacy can further enhance the adoption levels and feed faster into the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources in Punjab.