Theme-V-2-On-field management strategies for the sustainability of existing water resources in Punjab.

Abstract

Punjab can be considered as grain bin of India. About 83 percent of the state's geographical area is under cultivation with cropping intensity more than 188 percent. Introduction of tube well and canal irrigation coupled with additional management practices during the last 60 years has helped in boosting agricultural production and witnessing all round development in Punjab. Presently, all the surface and groundwater resources are fully explored. In spite of this, the total water available for irrigation is able to meet less than 75 percent of total water requirement and is expected to decrease further in future to meet the growing demand of other users. Moreover, indiscriminate exploitation of these resources has created hydrological imbalance threatening the agricultural sustainability of the state. The introduction of the dense canal network in the South-western Punjab and non-exploitation of its native brackish groundwater has resulted in rise of water table, water-logging and salinity problems. On the contrary, the water table has already declined to critical levels (more than 10 m) and is further declining at a rate of 0.54 m per year due to over exploitation of good quality groundwater in the central Punjab, where around 66% of total tube wells of the state are located. In the present study, current status of the available water resources with factors influencing their sustainability has been discussed for the entire state zone-wise. In the end, various on-field proven strategies for effective water management in the state have been briefly described.