In 47 years, steep decline in groundwater level in Kaithal

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Kaithal, July 22

Kaithal district has been experiencing rapid depletion in groundwater as on an average it has witnessed a downfall of 26 metres in the past 47 years (between 1974 and 2021).

The transplantation of paddy and less water conservation are being considered to be the main reasons behind this downfall.

The Siwan block of the district has reported maximum downfall of 43.18 metres in groundwater in these years, followed by Guhla (35.99 metres), Kaithal (30.43), Dhand (29.89), Fatehpur Pundri (23.84), Rajound (11.35), and Kalayat (8.13).

The authorities claimed that in the past 10 years, the district has reported a steep fall in the groundwater table.

At present, the groundwater table of Guhla block is at 42.87 metres, while it was at 29.31 metres in 2011 and 6.88 metres in 1974. Similarly, Kaithal block’s groundwater has reached to 35.05 metres, from 22.20 in 2011 and 4.62 metres in 1974.

The groundwater table of Fatehpur Pundri block is at 30.55 metres, which was at 17.03 metres in 2011 and 6.71 in 1974, while the water table of Rajond block is at 18.02 metres in 2021, which was 8.98 metres in 2011 and 6.67 in 1974, the data of Agriculture Department said.

Kalayat’s groundwater table reached 11.94 metres now from 6.49 metres in 2011 and 3.84 metres, while Siwan’s watertable is at 51.16 metres, from 37.01 metres in 2011 and 7.98 metres in 1974. The groundwater table of Dhand block is at 34.79 metres, which was at 21.42 in 2011 and 4.98 metres in 1974.

“The groundwater cell has installed piezometer tubes in the different parts of the district to measure the water table. We also collect the data from the Public Health Department. Paddy transplantation is a major reason behind this fall in the groundwater table, which is declining at an alarming rate,” said Karam Chand, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Kaithal.

Farmers should come forward to adopt crop diversification system and also direct seeded rice (DSR) technology to save water, he said, adding that “Meri Pani, Meri Virasat” is an ambitious scheme of the state government to save water. “It may take some time to recharge the water table, but efforts should be made by everyone — be it farmer or other person. The farmers should adopt crop diversification system, while the other people should make efforts to conserve water,” the DDA asserted.

Around 4,200 farmers have switched their nearly 6,400 acres to other crops to save water. He also claimed that around 10,000 acres had been shifted to DSR technology.

Siwan block reported maximum depletion

• The Siwan block of the district has reported maximum downfall of 43.18 metres in groundwater in these years, followed by Guhla (35.99 metres), Kaithal (30.43), Dhand (29.89), Fatehpur Pundri (23.84), Rajound (11.35), and Kalayat (8.13)
• Farmers should come forward to adopt crop diversification system and also direct seeded rice (DSR) technology to save water, said Karam Chand, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Kaithal