Theme-III-7-Assessment of Impact of Intensive agriculture on groundwater regime in Ludhiana & Muktsar districts, Punjab.

Abstract

Groundwater Quality monitoring carried out in Ludhiana and Muktsar districts of Punjab under Information Technology for Sustainable Agriculture in Punjab through Technology Information Forecasting and Council of DST has provided valuable groundwater quality database. Water quality database includes major ion concentrations, pesticide residue concentrations. Groundwater monitoring has been covered in the industrial areas of Ludhiana and in the intensive agriculture areas of both districts. Groundwater quality database has been supported by geophysical investigations, groundwater flow and mass transport modeling studies. The predictions from groundwater flow & mass transport models indicate that the reversal of hydraulic gradient in Ludhiana district poses problem of likely migration of contaminants in groundwater towards Ludhiana city. Severe Nitrate as nitrate and pesticide contamination as well as water logging conditions have been reported in Muktsar district. Recent updates of groundwater quality information suggest that there is no let up in the situation and noticed further deterioration of groundwater level in Ludhiana and groundwater quality in Muktsar district.