New tubewells on hold as water table dips sharply

The Punjab government has put on hold the release of tubewell connections to agricultural consumers, citing a sharp fall in the groundwater level across the state.

Issue :

• A survey report said that out of 138 development blocks in Punjab assessed for the estimation of groundwater,110 were found overexploited.
• The net annual groundwater availability in Punjab had fallen to (-)12.02 million acre ft (MAF) in 2011, as compared to 0.84 MAF in 1992.
• A major reason for the fast-depleting water table is free electricity given to agricultural consumers.
• The decision will affect about 1.5 lakh farmers/landowners, who had been given assurance letters by the previous government for new connections in 2016.

Analysis :

• As the ground water level is decreasing,Issuing new connections would be detrimental to saving groundwater.
• Free power was introduced in February 1997. It continued till October 2002 before being withdrawn. It was restored in September 2005.
• Instead of providing free Electricity, a cash subsidy should be offered to farmers to check on water consumption.
• The state can save Rs 40,000 million in 2017-18 if free power was restricted up to landholdings of 7.5 acres.
• In recent years, the PSPCL has been installing digital meters on new tubewell connections, but with the assurance that the government will foot the bill. About 20 per cent of Punjab’s tubewells now have meters.
• It is feared that if the present rate of utilisation of underground water continues, the existing centrifugal pumping system will become non-functional in the future and have to use submersible Pumps.It will not only mean additional investment for the farmers but could lead to a sharp drop in the production of foodgrain.
• The real culprit behind depletion of groundwater is the paddy crop, which is not natural to Punjab.It guzzles 10 times more water than other kharif crops.

Some measures to check depleting Groundwater level :

• Crop diversification and use of modern technologies like micro-sprinklers and drip irrigation,laser levelling zero tillage are to be adopted to save groundwater.
• Farmers should be encouraged to go in for short duration crops instead of the routine wheat-paddy cycle.
• Construction of various types of checking structures across the vast network along with renovating village ponds, treatment of defunct drains to increase the recharging capacity and maintaining the recommended height of bunds in paddy fields to store maximum rain water.
• Also, there is need to strengthen more people participatory projects to create public awareness regarding the natural resource degradation and its management.

By: Harman Sandhu