Consider the following statements about irrigation in Punjab : 1. In

Consider the following statements about irrigation in Punjab :

1. Intensity of irrigation is the highest among all Indian States.
2. Area under canal irrigation is the highest among all Indian States.
3. There has been severe land degradation in Punjab owing to agricultural modernization including high intensity of irrigation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1, 2 and 3

1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

1 only

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2012

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Statement 1: Punjab has one of the highest, if not the highest, intensities of irrigation among all Indian states due to its dominant agrarian economy and extensive irrigation infrastructure. Statement 2: While Punjab has significant canal irrigation, states like Uttar Pradesh have a larger total area under canal irrigation. Punjab relies heavily on both canals and groundwater (tubewells), with groundwater often irrigating a larger area than canals. Statement 3: High intensity of irrigation, coupled with practices like monoculture and heavy use of chemicals associated with the Green Revolution, has led to severe problems in Punjab, including waterlogging, soil salinity, declining water table, and nutrient imbalance, resulting in significant land degradation.

Punjab’s agriculture is highly modernized and dependent on irrigation, which, while boosting production, has also resulted in environmental challenges like land degradation and water resource depletion.

The excessive withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation has led to a significant drop in the water table in many parts of Punjab, adding another layer to the environmental concerns arising from intensive irrigation.

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