Overexploitation of groundwater in 18 Punjab districts: Union minister

New Delhi, July 29

The government on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that there was overexploitation of groundwater in 18 districts of Punjab.

Answering a question raised by MP Vikramjit Sahney, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil said the Central Ground Water Board periodically monitored the groundwater levels throughout the country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells.

163.76%: Stage of extraction

As per the latest assessment, the stage of groundwater extraction for Punjab stands at 163.76 per cent. There are 18 districts in Punjab where the stage of extraction has crossed 100 per cent mark (overexploited). CR Patil, Union Jal Shakti Minister

“The perusal of the data shows that about 84.29 per cent of the wells monitored across the country have recorded water levels within the range of 10 mbgl (metres below ground level), indicating ease of access to groundwater. As per the latest assessment, the stage of groundwater extraction for Punjab stands at 163.76 per cent. There are 18 districts in Punjab where the stage of extraction has crossed 100 per cent mark (over-exploited),” Patil said.

Sahney demanded that Punjab be immediately included in the Atal Bhujal Yojana for sustainable groundwater management. He said Punjab contributed 47 per cent of wheat and 21 per cent of rice to the central pool and was extracting excess water for food security of the country facing groundwater depletion in the process.

After Patil said Punjab had not fulfilled the criteria for the Atal Bhujal Yojana and the state should answer the same, Sahney said Punjab had complied with all parameters of the scheme. “Even the incentivisation scheme for bridging irrigation gap is pending for launch by the Central Government which would address Punjab groundwater issues,” Sahney said.

Satnam Singh Sandhu, also from Punjab, in a supplementary urged the minister to address flood challenges in Punjab. “Last year, floods wreaked havoc and 21 districts of Punjab were affected. The Punjab Government estimated a loss of over Rs 1,600 crore,” Sandhu said, calling for urgent flood mitigation in the wake of monsoon.

“Work should be done to establish flawless flood mitigation coordination between Punjab, HP, Haryana and Chandigarh,” added Sandhu.