Abstract:
Groundwater is considered to be the most vital for the livestock population. In Punjab, which is
also the food basket of India, the groundwater level is declining at a rapid rate due to increase in the number
of tube wells in the recent years and hence the groundwater abstraction has increased. In a recent study
conducted for monitoring the groundwater level in Punjab, the water level data was monitored for the period
2006-2013 in Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar & Kapurthala districts of Bist-Doab; Faridkot, Firozepur, Ludhiana,
Bhatinda & Patiala districts of Malwa region and Amritsar, Gurdaspur & Tarn Taran districts of Majha region
of Punjab. The groundwater level data has shown that the maximum decline to the tune of 9.75 m was
found in Patiala, followed by 8.57 m in Bhatinda and least decline of 3.13 m was found in Jalandhar during
the period 2006-2013. The areas showing marked decline in water levels should practice artificial recharge.
It is also essential to strengthen soil, water and groundwater institutions along with capacity building, training
and education in specific areas like artificial recharge, groundwater modelling, watershed management,
quality monitoring, and aquifer remediation on a continuous basis. Lastly, if immediate remedial measures
are not taken to reverse the declining trend of water table, it would be difficult to sustain even the existing
food grain production in the state, thereby, affecting the socio-economic condition of the farmers, specially
the small and marginal farmers.
