CHANDIGARH: Highlighting the proactive measures being undertaken by the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to address the state’s water crisis, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the government has made unprecedented strides in reversing the decades-long depletion of Punjab’s groundwater table through large-scale canal revival, watercourse restoration and groundwater recharge initiatives. He was addressing a press conference and had earlier spoken in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in support of a resolution moved by Professor Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra.
Highlighting the deteriorating groundwater situation inherited from previous governments, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “For the past 25 to 30 years, continuous extraction had caused groundwater levels to plummet, forcing farmers to constantly deepen tubewells and increase electricity loads. To combat this, the current government has embarked on a massive mission to restore the state’s canal network. By laying and reviving 16,000 kilometers of watercourses and releasing around 39,049 cusecs of water into canals, the state government has successfully ensured that canal water reaches the tail-end of every farmer’s field.”
Detailing the impact of these initiatives, the Finance Minister said, “This massive effort has yielded remarkable results, with groundwater levels rising by 3 to 5 meters in several blocks across the state. Utilising mineral-rich canal water instead of excessive groundwater extraction has boosted crop yields for wheat and paddy by 1 to 2 quintals per acre, directly increasing farmers’ incomes while easing the burden on power consumption and preserving natural energy.”
Highlighting the state’s efforts to strengthen groundwater recharge, he said, “Municipal committees in various cities have made rainwater recharge wells mandatory for the approval of any new building site plans. To ensure rainwater is effectively channelled back into the earth rather than running off wastefully, the state government has also granted administrative approval to numerous groundwater recharge schemes. A total of 510 schemes have been implemented, including 192 pond-based recharge schemes and 246 canal-based recharge schemes.”
Emphasising the government’s long-term vision for sustainable water conservation, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The state government is proudly walking the path shown by the great Gurus, treating water not merely as a commodity for farmers, but as a precious lifeline for the entire ecosystem and future generations.”
