In Punjab, water stewardship is need of the hour

In Punjab, water is more than a natural resource—it is the lifeblood of its agriculture-driven economy, fueling industrial growth and sustaining millions.

- Suresh Kumar

Yet, this lifeline is in crisis. Across the state, the groundwater table is plunging at an alarming rate, and many villages now drill borewells deeper than 300 feet, often with little success. The situation is dire, demanding a comprehensive approach that marries sound water economics with practical, solutions-driven governance and politics.

Punjab's water crisis is rooted in over-extraction, reduction in river water supplies, outdated infrastructure, and decades of political stalemates. Despite its critical dependence on water, the state lacks a formal water policy, relying instead on ad hoc measures shaped by immediate economic needs and political pressures.

Agriculture, which underpins Punjab's economy, consumes 80-85% of the state's water (Punjab State Development Report, 2018). Rice and wheat dominate the crop patterns despite their water-intensive nature, leading to severe groundwater depletion, with levels dropping by 3-5 feet annually in many regions (Central Ground Water Board, 2022). Over the last two decades, Punjab has lost 25% of its surface water resources, increasing its dependence on groundwater (Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, 2020). This over-reliance is unsustainable, with the state's water demand projected to outstrip its renewable supply by over 10 billion cubic meters by 2025 (Water Resources Department, Punjab, 2021). The state's water use efficiency is also assessed to be low to medium.