CHANDIGARH — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken a formidable stance against the rapid depletion of the state’s water table. Citing the policy of 24-hour free electricity for tubewells as a primary driver for waste, a Bench led by the Chief Justice has directed the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to file a comprehensive response within four weeks. The court expressed grave concern that the excessive extraction of groundwater today is essentially “borrowing” from the survival of the next generation.
A Scientific Emergency
Addressing the technical severity of the issue, the court highlighted that Punjab is currently pulling out double the amount of water that is naturally recharged. This “lethal” imbalance means that the state is consuming its water reserves at a rate of roughly 200%, a trend that the Bench described as potentially fatal for the region’s ecological and agricultural stability. The High Court emphasized that the state can no longer rely on short-term fixes; it requires a deep understanding of the scientific and technical dimensions to find a concrete, lasting solution to this environmental hemorrhage.
The Mandate for the CGWB
Recognizing the weight of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed on the matter, the court has tasked the CGWB with more than just a progress report. The Board is now required to provide actionable suggestions and a clear roadmap to halt the over-extraction of water. The court made it clear that understanding how to balance the energy needs of the farming community with the absolute necessity of water conservation is the only way to avoid a total collapse of the state’s primary natural resource.
