Chandigarh/ Punjab (March 20, 2014): It is learnt that the Central Government of India has showed concerns over the declining water table in Punjab. It has reportedly decided to expand the scope of the Integrated Watershed Management Programme to the entire state. The programme was earlier confined to the Kandi area.
It is notable that Punjab is facing severe water crisis. The groundwater table is falling at a very alarming rate. Center’s policy to introduce paddy crop in this state under the garb of so-called “green revolution” and unlawful distribution of Punjab’s river water to non-riparian states of Delhi, Rajashthan and Haryana has further worsen the situation, as it put extreme pressure on groundwater.
Satellite image showing the groundwater crisis in Punjab, India. Blue indicates areas with water surplus, yellow shows the beginning of a deficit. Red areas show regions experiencing severe groundwater depletion. Source: NASA.
According to information the Punjab Government had approached the Centre seeking its help in arresting the declining water table in most parts of the state.
Acting on the project report submitted in this regard, the Centre has told the state government authorities to fine tune the same and give top priority to areas where water table had gone down to a critical level.
According to media reports check dams were built in the Kandi area under this programme. Water is stored in check dams for use for irrigation. The system has not only facilitated irrigation but also checked the erosion of lower Shivalik hills.
However, as ground realities and situations severely differs in the plains as compared to the kandi areas, the authorities concerned would have to adopt a different approach in this regard, said Dr JS Samra, Chairman, Rainfed Area Authority of India.
He said manpower would have to be trained to handle the project. There was a provision in the project to employ educated youth from diverse fields such as agriculture, social sciences etc to implement the project, he said.
Dr Samra said Rs 323 crore would be available to the state government to implement the programme.
“People in the state must make an efficient use of water. To achieve this, there is a need to introduce the sprinkling system, laser levelling, drip irrigation and to avoid flood irrigation. Under the project, water accumulated in the village ponds will be effectively utilised,” he added.