Punjab's Lifeline: A New Era of Water Conservation Begins

The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has launched its first-ever State Groundwater Conservation and Management Plan, introducing a comprehensive 14-point strategy to address the state’s critical groundwater crisis.

Spanning more than 15.79 lakh hectares of agricultural land, the plan aims to reduce over-reliance on groundwater through the promotion of micro-irrigation, closed pipeline distribution systems, lift irrigation, check dams, and recharge ponds. Additional measures include flood modeling, farmer outreach programs, and the plantation of bamboo and vetiver to curb erosion and enhance groundwater absorption.

Of the state’s 153 development blocks, 115 are over-exploited, with groundwater extraction surpassing natural recharge rates. To reverse this trend, the government is prioritizing canal-based irrigation, crop diversification, and sustainable groundwater recharge techniques such as percolation tanks. A key component is the revival of Punjab’s 63,000 km of defunct canal network to improve surface water distribution.

Beyond infrastructure, the initiative stresses community participation, scientific collaboration, and grassroots engagement, signaling a shift toward inclusive and data-driven water resource management.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.