Lok Sabha Question No. 200 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Groundwater Exploitation in Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *200

ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026

## GROUNDWATER EXPLOITATION IN PUNJAB

| *200.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | Smt. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that Punjab has the highest rate of groundwater extraction in country with over 75 per cent of its blocks classified as overexploited and groundwater extraction reaching                                                                                                                                                                                        | Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that Punjab has the highest rate of groundwater extraction in country with over 75 per cent of its blocks classified as overexploited and groundwater extraction reaching                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| (b) the steps taken by the Government to address the widespread contamination of groundwater in Punjab with toxic substances such as arsenic, fluoride and uranium as reported in several districts; (c) whether the Government has conducted any studies or assessments on the impact of declining groundwater levels and increasing salinity on agricultural productivity and public health in Punjab and so, the details and key findings thereof; and | (b) the steps taken by the Government to address the widespread contamination of groundwater in Punjab with toxic substances such as arsenic, fluoride and uranium as reported in several districts; (c) whether the Government has conducted any studies or assessments on the impact of declining groundwater levels and increasing salinity on agricultural productivity and public health in Punjab and so, the details and key findings thereof; and |
| if                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | if                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| ANSWER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | ANSWER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| reliance on tubewells and the reduction in canal-irrigated area?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | reliance on tubewells and the reduction in canal-irrigated area?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| (SHRI C R PAATIL)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *200  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  12.02.2026  IN  LOK  SABHA  REGARDING  'GROUNDWATER EXPLOITATION IN PUNJAB'

(a) Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being annually assessed, jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. As per current assessment report, 2025, the total Annual  Ground  Water  Recharge  for  the  state  of  Punjab  is  18.60  Billion  Cubic  Meter  (BCM)  and  the Annual Extractable  Ground  Water  Resources  is  estimated  as  16.80  BCM. Further,  total  Annual  Ground Water Extraction in Punjab in 2025 has been assessed as 26.27 BCM. Based on this, the Stage of Ground Water Extraction (SoE), which is a measure of Annual Ground Water Extraction for all uses (irrigation, industrial  and  domestic  uses)  over  Annual  Extractable  Ground  Water  Resource  is  worked  out  to  be 156.36% for the state of Punjab .

Further, 111 (72.55%) blocks out of 153 in Punjab have been categorized as 'Over-exploited' where total  annual  ground  water  extraction  exceeds  the  extractable  ground  water  resources.  Additionally,  10 Blocks are in critical, 15 in Semi-critical and 17 in Safe category.

(b) CGWB conducts  regular  testing  and  analysis  of  ground  water  samples  throughout  the  country, including in the state of Punjab, for various quality parameters/contaminants like Electrical Conductivity (EC), Fluoride, Nitrate, heavy metals etc. Perusal of such data available with CGWB indicates that ground water in Punjab largely  remains potable with localized occurrence of  Arsenic,  Fluoride and  Uranium in ground  water  in  excess  of  the  limits  prescribed  for  drinking  water  use  being  reported  in  some  isolated pockets.

Water  is  a  State  subject  and  the  responsibility  of  taking  initiatives  to  mitigate  ground  water contamination lies primarily with the state governments. However, to complement the efforts of the state governments, several steps have been taken by the Central Government to address these issues across the country, including Punjab. Some of the important ones are mentioned below:-

- i. The  ground  water  quality  data  generated  by  CGWB  including  that  for  heavy  metal contamination, is regularly disseminated through Annual Reports, Half-yearly Bulletins and Fortnightly Alerts for quick action by the stakeholders.
- ii. CGWB has also developed techniques for constructing Arsenic and Fluoride safe wells and apart  from  taking  up  demonstrative  construction  of  such  wells  in  affected  areas,  is  also providing technical assistance to state departments for taking up similar constructions.
- iii. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal, being implemented by this Ministry in partnership with states, marks an important milestone for providing free potable tap water to every rural household of the country.
- iv. Improvement  in  ground  water  quality  can  also  be  achieved  to  some  extent  by  taking  up artificial  recharge  of  contaminated  aquifers,  which  dilutes  the  contaminants  to  reduce  their

adverse effects. Accordingly,  Ministry of Jal Shakti and  other central ministries are implementing  several  programmes  towards  this  end  like  the  annual  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan Campaigns, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative, PMKSY and MGNREGS schemes etc.

(c) Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) Phase 1.0, aquifer mapping for the entire mappable area of the country, including Punjab, has been carried out and district-wise ground water management  plans  have  been  shared  with  state/district  administrations  for  taking  up  suitable  field interventions,  which  include measures  like  rainwater  harvesting,  micro-irrigation  expansion  and  crop diversification. Subsequently, under NAQUIM 2.0, specific studies focusing on areas facing ground water depletion  and  quality  issues,  including  salinity,  have  been  taken  up,  including  in  the  State  of  Punjab, providing more precise and high granularity data for better informed ground water management.

(d) The  government  has  taken  up  several  important  measures,  as  summarized  below,  for  reducing dependence on ground water, encouraging conjunctive use with surface water and promoting sustainable irrigation practices in the country, including Punjab.

- i. Under various  components  of  the  umbrella  Scheme  of  PMKSY  like  Repair,  Renovation  & Restoration  (RRR),  Surface  Minor  Irrigation  (SMI)  etc.,  the  M/o  Jal  Shakti  provides assistance  to  states,  including  Punjab  for  reviving/restoring  traditional  water  bodies  and enhancing  irrigation  through  smaller  surface  water  projects  like  tanks,  check  dams  and  lift irrigation,  benefiting  small  &  marginal  farmers.   Further,  surface  water  based  Major  and Medium  irrigation  projects  are  taken  up  through  PMKSY-AIBP  component  to  reduce  the dependence on ground water.
- ii. Based on the advisories of M/o Jal Shakti to States to review their free/subsidized electricity policy  to  farmers,  bring  suitable  water  pricing  policy  and  to  work  further  towards  crop rotation/diversification/other initiatives to reduce over-dependence on groundwater, Department of Agriculture, Punjab is pursuing to diversify the acreage under paddy to other less water consuming crops by extending incentives to farmers.
- iii. 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.

*****