Chandigarh: In a significant step towards addressing Punjab’s water woes, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced the in-principle approval for a Rs 1.61 crore micro-level study on water resources and seepage patterns. The study, to be conducted by the Punjab State Farmers’ & Farm Workers’ Commission (PSFFWC) in collaboration with IIT Ropar, will help develop effective solutions to manage the state’s subsoil water levels.
Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that as an agrarian state, Punjab faces serious challenges concerning water availability and its sustainable usage. He emphasised that this project represents a crucial step towards the revival of the state’s agrarian era. “The initial macro-level study, conducted by the PSFFWC in collaboration with the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, was formally acknowledged by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Committee on Agriculture Reforms. Subsequently, the Committee decided a more detailed micro-level study”, he added.
Elaborating on the scientific depth of the investigation, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the micro-level study will employ advanced techniques, including Carbon Dating and isotope analysis of sub-soil and repository water, as well as a comprehensive examination of seepage patterns across the state. The study’s objectives encompass a range of critical aspects, including profiling all types of available water resources, characterising aquifers to inform policy decisions, conducting heliborne surveys, exploring alternative water resources, and conducting micro-level studies to determine seepage rates
Providing details on the financial allocation for the study, Finance Minister Cheema said that the project will be funded with a total outlay of Rs 221.65 lakh. Of this amount, IIT Ropar will contribute Rs 60.00 lakh from its own resources, leaving a requirement of Rs 161.00 lakh for the Punjab State Farmers’ & Farm Workers’ Commission. In exchange for the funding, IIT Ropar will provide comprehensive technical support, including design and execution expertise, field investigations, sample collection, deployment of portable instruments, infrastructure and laboratory facilities, and technical training and capacity-building initiatives.
The study comprises five detailed phases, scheduled for completion within 12 months of receiving the required funds. Phase 1 will conduct a field survey to determine sampling sites, Phase 2 will develop a hydrogeological framework of the state’s aquifer systems, Phase 3 will involve hydro-chemical characterisation and isotopic analysis to assess contamination levels and identify source areas, Phase 4 will identify areas for canal network expansion, and Phase 5 will provide recommendations for management measures
The Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the collaboration with IIT Ropar is a testament to the state government’s commitment to science-driven policy-making. He said that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is focused on finding sustainable, long-term solutions to benefit the state’s farmers.
