Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SPATIO–TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF GROUNDWATER DEPLETION IN PUNJAB STATE, INDIA

Sarish Khera and Yadvinder Singh

Abstract

After the introduction of groundwater irrigation in Punjab in 1970Â’s, paddy and wheat replaced other crops of pre-green revolution like maize, grams, oilseeds, and mustard. The exploitation of groundwater increased manifolds with incentives like electricity subsidies and minimum support price for rice. According to Central Ground Water Board and Directorate Water Resources and Environment, Punjab (2013), the net groundwater availability for future use is -14.57 billion Cubic meters. In this study, groundwater level resources were analysed for the period of 1970-2010 for pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season for 134 blocks. It has been analysed that maximum groundwater decline is witnessed in Central Punjab which includes Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, and Patiala. The range of groundwater decline varies from a maximum of 6.7m per (10 years)-1 to a minimum of -3.19 m (10 years) -1 in pre-monsoon. Whereas, in post monsoon season, the range of groundwater decline varies from a maximum of 5.5 m (10 years) -1 to a minimum of -2.2 m (10 years) -1. 58% of the blocks of Punjab show a significant decline in groundwater whereas, 37% blocks do not show any significant trends, while remaining 3% show rising trends. In the post monsoon trends, 51% blocks of Punjab show a sharp declining trend, while 44% do not show any significant trend, whereas 5% show an increasing trend.