Lok Sabha Question No. 4483 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Groundwater Level in Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

4483.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4483

ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025

## GROUNDWATER LEVEL IN PUNJAB

SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the current status of groundwater levels in Punjab;

(b) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to address water depletion in the State;

(c) the progress of river rejuvenation projects in Punjab; and

(d)  the  long-term  strategy  prepared  by  the  Government  to  ensure  sustainable  water  management  in  the State?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Central Ground Water Board ( CGWB) monitors groundwater levels throughout the country including the  state  of  Punjab,  four  times  in  every  year.  The  perusal  of  ground  water  level  data  measured  during November 2024 data reveals that 42.5 % of monitored wells are showing water levels in the range of 0 - 10 meters  below  ground  level  (mbgl).  Further,  as  per  the  National  Dynamic  Ground  Water  Resource Assessment Report 2024, total annual ground water recharge in Punjab is 19.19 Billion Cubic Meters(BCM) and total annual ground water extraction for all uses is 27.66 BCM.

(b) Water  being  a  State  subject,  addressing  water  related  issues,  including  taking  steps  for  sustainable development  of  ground  water  resources,  falls  under  the  mandate  of  State  governments.  The  Central Government complements the efforts of the States by providing technical support and financial assistance through  its  various  schemes  and  projects.  Some  of  the  important  steps  taken  by  the  Ministry  to  address ground water depletion in the country, including in the State of Punjab are given below:

- i. The Government is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country, including Punjab, since 2019 in which is a mission mode and time bound programme for harvesting the rainfall and  taking  up  water  conservation  activities.  Currently,  JSA  2025  has  been  launched  in  the country,  with  a  special  focus  on  Over-exploited,  Critical  and  Semi-critical  districts  (OCS districts),  including  those  of  Punjab.  JSA  is  an  umbrella  campaign  under  which  various

ground water recharge and conservation related works are being taken up in convergence with various central and state schemes.

- ii. CGWB has  taken  up  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  Programme(NAQUIM) with an aim to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization. Entire mappable area of the country of around 25 lakh sq. km, has been mapped, with 50,368 sq. km in Punjab, under the scheme and management plans have been shared with the respective State governments for implementation.
- iii. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB and shared with States/UTs providing a broad outline for construction of around 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) of water. Master plan for the state of Punjab recommends construction of about 11 lakh structures to harness about 1200 MCM of rain-water.
- iv. Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA & FW), GoI, is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme in the country, including Punjab, since 2015-16, which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation and better on-farm water management practices to optimize the use of available water resources. As per the data available, an area of 15,173 Ha was covered under PDMC in Punjab up to Feb 2024.
- v. Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched by the Government of India, which aimed at developing and rejuvenating at least 75 water bodies in each district of the country, including Punjab. As an outcome, nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country with 1,450 in Punjab.

(c) Government  of  India  is  supplementing  the  efforts  of  the  State/UT  Governments  in  addressing  the challenges of pollution of rivers by  providing financial and technical assistance in identified stretches of various  rivers  in  the  country  (excluding  river  Ganga  and  its  tributaries)  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).  In Punjab, pollution abatement of rivers,  namely, Satluj, Beas, and Ghaggar, has been implemented, wherein various pollution abatement works relating to interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage system, setting up sewage treatment plant (STP), low cost sanitation, river front/bathing ghat development, etc. have been taken up. Total sanctioned cost  for  this  purpose  under  NRCP  is  Rs.774.43  crore  and  sewage  treatment  capacity  created  is  663.20 Million Liters per Day (MLD).

(d) To have a long term and effective strategy for sustainable and integrated management of water resources in  the  country,  including  Punjab,  National  Water  Policy  (2012)  has  been  formulated  by  Department  of Water  Resources,  RD  &  GR,  which, inter-alia ,  calls  for  rainwater  harvesting,  conservation  of  water, mapping the aquifers of the country, proper regulation of extraction by setting up regulatory authorities and integrated development of surface and ground water. The policy has been circulated to states for adoption.

-  In  tune  with  the  aspirations  echoed  by  the  NWP,  the  government  has  implemented  several demand and supply side measures for conservation and sustainable use of water resources. To reduce  the  water  demand  schemes  like  PDMC,  which  emphasize  on  switching  to  micro irrigation  systems,  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP)  under  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas Yojana and National Food Security Mission (NFSM) etc. are being implemented in Punjab. Further, the M/o Jal Shakti has also issued advisories to Punjab to review their free/subsidized electricity  policy  to  farmers  and  bring  suitable  water  pricing  policy  which  are  being  acted upon by the state. On the other hand, to augment the supply of water, rain water harvesting and  artificial  recharge  works  are  being  taken  up  under  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan,  Mission  Amrit Sarovar, the Repair, Renovation, and Restoration (RRR) scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)   etc.  In  this  regard,  the  Masterplan  for  artificial  recharge prepared and disseminated.
-  In addition to the above, based on the advice of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Punjab Water Resources  Regulation  and  Development  Authority  (PWRDA)  has  been  established  under section 3 of Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act, 2020 Act to ensure conservation, management and regulation of water resources in the State.
-  Further,  to  reduce  dependence  on  ground  water  and  to  increase  the  availability  of  surface water, the government of Punjab has taken up several projects to extend and revive the canal networks.

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