Depletion of ground water in Punjab

The Punjab state farmers commission has asked the State Government to make delayed-sowing of rice mandatory. The move comes at a time when agriculture in Punjab is facing its worst spell since 1970. Last year, the state recorded 1.86 per cent Growth in farming. Moreover, groundwater Resources in the state have taken a sharp dip. In a desperate move to arrest the falling water table, the state electricity board restricted power supply to the farmers. Experts say the crops, if sowed late, consume less water, eventually helping in saving groundwater.

According to experts, cultivation of rice crops–summer rice or sathi and the monsoon rice–has aggravated the groundwater depletion. Under dry conditions, rice needs to be irrigated 24 to 28 times, constituting 37 per cent of the total water demand of Punjab.

Over 70 per cent of the tubewells in the state are in the central districts and about 85 per cent of the land is used for rice during kharif season. As a consequence,118 of the 138 blocks in Punjab are overexploited. Area irrigated by tubewells has gone up from 0.2 million to 2.4 million ha in the last decade. Scientists are asking farmers to move away from paddy and replace it with less-water-requiring but high value crops.

The pusa 44 hybrid variety of rice which the farmers cultivate today takes a longer period to mature. It is prone to diseases like the bacterial leaf blight disease. Due to the longer maturity period, farmers sow it in May so that it matures on time, making it vulnerable to the pests affecting saplings planted late. This variety of rice is meant for Bihar, western up and some parts of Haryana.

Punjab has exhausted its upper layer of groundwater and farmers are now using high-horsepower pumps. Till 2006, submersibles replaced about 30 per cent of the centrifugal pumps in the state, to draw in deep lying water. The trend has also taken its toll on the state’s demand for electricity. The rush for powerful pumps has caused financial problems to many of the farmers.

Variation in Crop Water Demand (ET)

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the sum of Evaporation (movement of water to the air from the Soil, canopy interception and water bodies) and Transpiration (movement of water within a plant which is subsequently lost as vapours through stomata). It is expressed in terms of depth of water. Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) is the amount of water that could be evaporated and transpired if there was sufficient water available. It is important to note that the ET varies from crop to crop and year to year depending upon rainfall, temperatures, humidity, wind speeds, etc.

Act to Save Underground Water

The farmers had started planting paddy beginning from the first week of May for convenience as the research results indicate that paddy crop transplanted from 10th June onwards has the same productivity . Thus, to delay the transplanting to save lot of water, as the evapo-transpiration is much less compared to May, at the initiative of the Punjab State Farmers Commission, ‘the Punjab preservation of sub-soil water Act, 2009’ was promulgated as an Ordinance in 2008. It has been effectively implemented and ensured that the ‘sowing of paddy nursery was not before May 10’ and the ‘transplanting of paddy nursery was not before June 10’. During 2008, the combined effect of more (than normal) rainfall and the Act led to improvements in water table, estimated as almost equal contribution to total at 80 to 100 cms; and is within the range of provisional estimates from the monitored data.

It has been estimated that about 10 cms of the additional monsoon rainfall would restore the long term balance. The Act saves about 5 cms. In a low rainfall year, the Savings could be higher because due to the Act, the transplanting is further staggered as the expectation of rain enters the decision process, like in 2009 with the lowest monsoon rainfall of the decade.

The estimates of the available supply of water in the long run are somewhat more thoroughly monitored and therefore more precisely known; these are somewhat static but for annual variations of rainfall and seasonal flows; the latter also having been maneuvered by the ‘political shifts’ from one region/ area to another one. However, shifting the excessive flow of canal water to areas, where the underground water is brackish and ‘not fit for use’, the recharge is the ‘net loss’ (for it cannot be pumped out for use). It also ultimately leads to other problems like water-logging, etc. for which the public Investment in Drainage Systems becomes necessary. This is what has happened precisely and silently over the last few decades by inter-linking the rivers and large-scale diversion of surface water supply from recharging the sweet-water zones to the brackish ones. Various ‘water-use-efficiency’ possibilities have also been discussed earlier; more need to be researched. The evaluation of the technology-investment Options like happy seeder, laser leveler, ridger/trencher, etc. from the perspective of savings in water and other benefits is needed.

Agricultural development in Punjab started around the water management, whether it was the enthusiastic land mark of achieving the consolidation of the fragmented holdings upto mid-1960s, i.e., even prior to the high-yielding varieties era or during the era through the complementary policies of institutional credit and electricity supply (and others) that facilitated the private/farmers investments in tubewells . As of today there are more than a million electric tubewells in Punjab, of which more than half have been replaced over time with the submersible ones in search of water from the deeper layers underground; and almost every one is with a standby availability of a diesel engine/Generator set, in case of scarce electricity supply. The area irrigated by tubewells is 3 million hectare, which is about 71 per cent of the net cultivated area of the State, and is cropped twice a year, irrigated many times throughout the year. Some concerted policy initiatives and capital investments need to be channelled judiciously, for it would be unaffordable to let the story of development end with its mismanagement that had been depleting the underground water, which had accumulated over the centuries, at the rate that the crisis showed up in a quarter century, and, which even worsened over the next quarter century

Groundwater depletion is a major problem in Punjab, India. The state is one of the most water-stressed in the country, and groundwater is the primary source of Irrigation for agriculture. However, over-extraction of groundwater has led to a decline in the water table, which has had a number of negative consequences.

One of the most serious effects of groundwater depletion is the decline in agricultural productivity. As the water table falls, farmers are forced to dig deeper wells to access water. This is expensive and time-consuming, and it can also lead to the contamination of groundwater with salt and other pollutants. In addition, the decline in groundwater has made it more difficult for farmers to grow crops that require a lot of water, such as rice.

Groundwater depletion also has a number of environmental consequences. As the water table falls, the land surface subsides. This can lead to the collapse of buildings and Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE, and it can also make roads and railways more prone to damage. In addition, groundwater depletion can lead to the Salinization of soil, which makes it difficult to grow crops.

There are a number of solutions to groundwater depletion in Punjab. One solution is to reduce the amount of water that is used for irrigation. This can be done by using more efficient irrigation methods, such as Drip Irrigation. In addition, farmers can switch to crops that require less water, such as wheat.

Another solution is to recharge groundwater aquifers. This can be done by building artificial recharge structures, such as check Dams and ponds. In addition, farmers can plant trees and shrubs, which help to recharge groundwater aquifers.

The government of Punjab has taken a number of initiatives to address groundwater depletion. The government has implemented a number of programs to promote water conservation, such as the Water Conservation and Management Programme. In addition, the government has set up a number of groundwater recharge projects, such as the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Project.

The government has also launched a number of public awareness campaigns about groundwater depletion. These campaigns aim to educate the public about the importance of groundwater conservation and the dangers of groundwater depletion.

A number of research projects are underway to study the causes and effects of groundwater depletion in Punjab. These projects are aimed at developing new solutions to groundwater depletion.

There is also a growing level of international cooperation on groundwater depletion in Punjab. A number of international organizations, such as the World Bank and the United Nations, are working with the government of Punjab to address groundwater depletion.

The future outlook for groundwater depletion in Punjab is uncertain. If the current trends continue, the water table in Punjab is likely to continue to decline. This will have a number of negative consequences for the state’s economy and Environment. However, if the government and the public take action to conserve groundwater, it is possible to slow the rate of depletion and avoid the worst consequences.

What is groundwater depletion?
Groundwater depletion is the lowering of the water table, which is the level at which groundwater is found. This can happen when groundwater is pumped out faster than it can be replenished by natural processes.

What are the causes of groundwater depletion?
The main causes of groundwater depletion are:
* Overpumping: This is the most common cause of groundwater depletion. It occurs when groundwater is pumped out faster than it can be replenished by natural processes.
* Climate change: Climate Change can lead to changes in Precipitation patterns, which can reduce the amount of water that is available to recharge groundwater aquifers.
* Deforestation: Deforestation can lead to soil erosion, which can reduce the amount of water that is able to infiltrate the soil and recharge groundwater aquifers.

What are the effects of groundwater depletion?
Groundwater depletion can have a number of negative effects, including:
* Reduced water availability: When groundwater is depleted, there is less water available for drinking, irrigation, and other uses.
* Increased Water Pollution: When groundwater is depleted, it can become more difficult to maintain water quality. This is because groundwater is often less well-protected from pollution than surface water.
* Land subsidence: When groundwater is depleted, the land above the aquifer can subside, or sink. This can damage infrastructure, such as roads and buildings.
* Seawater intrusion: When groundwater is depleted, seawater can intrude into coastal aquifers. This can make the water in these aquifers unusable for drinking or irrigation.

What can be done to prevent groundwater depletion?
There are a number of things that can be done to prevent groundwater depletion, including:
* Reducing groundwater pumping: This is the most important step that can be taken to prevent groundwater depletion. This can be done by using water more efficiently and by switching to alternative water sources, such as surface water or rainwater.
* Recharging groundwater aquifers: This can be done by artificially recharging aquifers with water from surface water sources or by using rainwater harvesting.
* Protecting groundwater from pollution: This can be done by implementing regulations that protect groundwater from pollution and by educating people about the importance of protecting groundwater.

What are the benefits of preventing groundwater depletion?
There are a number of benefits to preventing groundwater depletion, including:
* Increased water availability: When groundwater is not depleted, there is more water available for drinking, irrigation, and other uses.
* Improved water quality: When groundwater is not depleted, it is easier to maintain water quality. This is because groundwater is often less well-protected from pollution than surface water.
* Reduced land subsidence: When groundwater is not depleted, the land above the aquifer is less likely to subside. This can help to protect infrastructure, such as roads and buildings.
* Reduced seawater intrusion: When groundwater is not depleted, seawater is less likely to intrude into coastal aquifers. This can help to protect water quality and make water in these aquifers usable for drinking or irrigation.

Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of groundwater depletion, water conservation, and Sustainable Development:

Which of the following is not a cause of groundwater depletion?
(A) Overpumping
(B) Climate change
(C) Infiltration from surface water
(D) Evaporation
Which of the following is the most effective way to conserve water?
(A) Fix leaks in your home
(B) Take shorter showers
(C) Water your lawn less often
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is not a sustainable development goal?
(A) Goal 1: No POVERTY
(B) Goal 2: Zero hunger
(C) Goal 3: Good Health and well-being
(D) Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
Which of the following is not a benefit of sustainable development?
(A) Reduced poverty
(B) Improved health
(C) Increased economic growth
(D) Increased Environmental Degradation
Which of the following is the most important thing you can do to help achieve sustainable development?
(A) Reduce your carbon footprint
(B) Recycle and compost
(C) Support sustainable businesses
(D) All of the above

I hope these questions were helpful!