23-Groundwater Management in Haryana and Emerging Issues.

Abstract

Haryana has only 1.4% of India's geographical area, yet it is the second largest contributor to the central food grains pool. Practically every single inch of the cultivable land is sown, and 84% area is irrigated. Safe and piped drinking water is available in every village. Haryana is a water deficit state. The surface water available for utilization is extremely limited. The main perennial rivers of the composite Punjab, viz., the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi do not pass through the state of Haryana. The meager share of Haryana in the water in these rivers is being utilized through Bhakra Canal. The other source of surface water supply is river Yamuna, which is also shared with the U.P. The requirement of water in the state has been estimated as 31.90 million-acre feet (MAF) at 62% intensity against which the availability of water from all foreseeable resources i.e., surface and groundwater is 18.75 MAF, out of which 13.81 MAF is in use.