Abstract:
During the last 4 decades, Punjab state has adept a spectacular increase in agricultural production by practising rice-wheat cropping system with convinced irrigation facilities, leading the country in achieving foodsufficiency. This has led to manifold increase in the irrigation water demand, which has resulted in depletion of groundwater level in most parts of the state at an alarming rate. To some extent the irrigation requirement are fulfilled by introduction of canal irrigation which, on the other hand, has led to the development of water logging and subsequent salinization rendering large chunks of fertile land unproductive mainly in the south-western part of Punjab. Other factors namely, improper alignment of canals, seepage flow from canals & distributaries, drainage congestion, surface soil type, faulty irrigation practices etc. have also contributed to the problem of water logging, soil salinity and groundwater salinity. The problem has compounded and expanded further by natural factors such as, existence of topographic depression and impervious layer near the land surface, absence of natural drainage and incessant rains.
The problem of groundwater being faced by Punjab is of twin in nature; (i) water logging and salinity in SW Punjab, and (ii) rapid decline in groundwater level in adjoining areas of central Punjab. The twin problems of waterlogging and salinization in South-west Punjab as described by many professionals are broadly attributed to the depressional location of the area coupled with the lack of proper drainage system, poor percolation because of impervious clay strata and constant seepage from Rajasthan Feeder Canal & Sirhind Feeder Canal. It is also conjectured that excessive withdrawal of groundwater might have caused reversal of natural groundwater flow pattern that consequently ingress of salinity in fresh groundwater region of central Punjab. Ground water Hydrology Division of National Institute of Hydrology (N111), Roorkee has taken up a study to assess the salinity ingression and same has been in this research paper.
