testThe state of Punjab is facing an imminent water crisis, with alarming statistics indicating a rapid depletion of its groundwater resources. If immediate action is not taken, Punjab, once known as India’s food bowl, risks transforming into a barren desert within the next few decades.
Extent of Over-Exploitation
Recent reports suggest that a staggering 79% of Punjab’s districts are over-exploiting their sub-soil water, with the annual rate of depletion currently standing at 51 cm per year. This trend, if left unchecked, could exhaust the state’s water reserves within a mere 22 years, fundamentally altering its agricultural landscape.
Worst Affected Districts
The crisis is particularly acute in districts such as Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Moga, Pathankot, and Patiala, where groundwater levels are plummeting by nearly one meter annually. Tubewells in these regions are being dug as deep as 300 feet to access water suitable for irrigation, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Contributing Factors
While agriculture remains the primary consumer of groundwater, accounting for 96.65% of extraction, other sectors such as industry and domestic usage also play significant roles. The indiscriminate waste of water by institutions like schools, colleges, and hospitals exacerbates the problem, indicating a systemic issue that requires multifaceted solutions.
Legislative Efforts and Challenges
The Government of Punjab has implemented measures like the Preservation of Subsoil Water Act in 2009 to regulate agricultural practices and mitigate water depletion. However, enforcement remains a challenge, and the efficacy of such measures is limited without broader societal participation and compliance.
Future Projections and Urgent Call to Action
Forecasts by the state agriculture department paint a grim picture, suggesting that water reserves at depths of 100 meters could be depleted within 12 years, while those at 300 meters may vanish in 20-25 years. This impending crisis demands immediate attention from all stakeholders, including government authorities, civil society, and the agricultural community, to formulate sustainable solutions and safeguard Punjab’s future.
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