Punjab and Haryana’s Depleting Water Table; A Major Concern

Groundwater levels are dropping alarmingly in Punjab and Haryana in comparison with the rise in wells monitored, marking a grave problem associated with dipping water tables, which has major implications for the people of the two ‘food bowls’ states of north India.

The situation of Punjab is much worse than this. According to the information given in Lok Sabha by the Jal Shakti ministry in response to a question from BJP members Manoj Kotak and Raksha Nikhil Khadse, in contrast to these two states, the proportion of wells experiencing a rise in water levels has been higher than once in Himachal Pradesh.

Based on the analysis, 74 wells experience a decline of 0-2 meters, 38 wells see a rise of 2-4 meters and 10 wells see a rise exceeding 4 meters, while 46 wells see a rise of 0-2 meters, 7 have a rise of 2 meters, and 1 has a rise exceeding 4 meters. In Haryana, 56.28 % of 183 monitored wells recorded a decline in groundwater levels while 24.04 % of wells recorded an increase. 65 wells showed a drop between 0 and 2 meters, while 19 wells showed a drop between 2 and 4 meters or above 4 meters.

Published by:

Harwinder Kaur