Punjab government unveils 14-point action plan to tackle groundwater crisis; boost canal water use
CHANDIGARH: In a first, the Punjab government on Friday approved a 14-point action plan under its Integrated State Water Plan to preserve and replenish groundwater, as the state faces an annual average water table decline of 0.7 metre.
Chairing a meeting of the Water Resources Department regarding the Integrated State Water Plan, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the plan has been meticulously prepared by the department in consultation with all relevant government departments.
He said the situation is already alarming, with 115 out of 153 blocks in the state categorised as over-exploited in terms of groundwater extraction. The plan, he said, focuses on conserving groundwater and increasing the use of canal water for various purposes. This will be achieved by reducing groundwater demand, lowering agricultural water usage, improving irrigation techniques, and replenishing and artificially augmenting groundwater.
Mann added that efforts will also focus on identifying sustainable water sources, exploring deep aquifers, and promoting the use of surface water. He noted that the government has already restored 17,000 water courses covering approximately 6,300 km, which had been abandoned for 30 to 40 years. Additionally, 79 canals spanning 545 km have also been restored.
Mann approved a 14-point action plan that includes an effective irrigation strategy to ensure optimal water use in fields. The plan aims to bring around 15,79,379 hectares under water-efficient techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, moving away from conventional methods to reduce net water demand and increase efficiency.
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Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab CM approves 14-point action plan to preserve groundwater
Chandigarh : The Punjab government on Friday gave nod to a 14-point Integrated State Water Plan to preserve and replenish water sources in the state. The Punjab government on Friday gave nod to a 14-point Integrated State Water Plan to preserve and replenish water sources in the state. The plan was approved by chief minister Bhagwant Mann at a meeting of the water resources department here in which he stated that the plan had been prepared in consultation with other departments. He said the situation in Punjab is already alarming as 115 blocks of the state out of total 153 are over exploited in terms of groundwater extraction. The plan focuses on saving the groundwater and enhancing the usage of canal water for various motives, he said. Mann also expressed concern over the annual average of the lowering of water level by 0.7 metre due to extraction of 5.2 billion cubic metre water. He said there was a need to reduce the groundwater demand, decreasing agricultural water demand, improve the irrigation techniques, replenish the groundwater and artificially augment the groundwater. Additionally, efforts must be made for finding other sustainable sources, deep aquifer exploration and promoting use of surface water. He further said that the government is duty bound to give water to every tail end user and has already restored 17,000 water courses with an approximate length of about 6,300 kms and 79 canals after 30 to 40 years of abandonment. About the action plan, he said that it should aim to bring around 15,79,379 hectares area under various water efficient techniques such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and others instead of conventional irrigation methods to reduce the net water demand and wastage of water by increasing the efficiency. The CM said the plan will focus on restoration of canal water courses and excess available water will be distributed from canal and its distributaries directly to ponds adjacent to canal and distributaries. The water from the pond will be taken to fields through a lift irrigation system, thereby increasing area under surface irrigation, he said, adding that construction of check dams and new ponds will be done. He also laid stress on deep groundwater study to understand the actual situation, The plan also envisages private sector participation in water management under corporate social responsibility. Experts meet to tackle water crisis The Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission (PSFFWC) on Friday held a meeting with water experts and scientists on 15 agenda points on water resources availability and other related issues. In the meeting chaired by PSFFWC chairman Dr Sukhpal Singh, experts emphasized the need for urgent interventions, including advanced isotopic studies and carbon dating to map the state's depleting groundwater resources, heliborne surveys to identify ancient paleo-channels for enhancing recharge, and a focused strategy to address South-West Punjab's severe waterlogging and salinity issues. The meeting was attended by Dr Pushpendra Pal Singh, dean (CAPS), IIT Ropar, Dr Sarbjot Kaur, leading scientist on radioactive tools, IIT Ropar, Dr Harshad Kulkarni, assistant professor, IIT Mandi Dr Ranjeet K Jha, IIT Mandi, and Dr Gopal Krishan, Scientist-E, National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee. Earlier, the discussions followed a study commissioned by PSFFWC from the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee in this regard.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Punjab government unveils 14-point action plan to tackle groundwater crisis; boost canal water use
CHANDIGARH: In a first, the Punjab government on Friday approved a 14-point action plan under its Integrated State Water Plan to preserve and replenish groundwater, as the state faces an annual average water table decline of 0.7 metre. Chairing a meeting of the Water Resources Department regarding the Integrated State Water Plan, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the plan has been meticulously prepared by the department in consultation with all relevant government departments. He said the situation is already alarming, with 115 out of 153 blocks in the state categorised as over-exploited in terms of groundwater extraction. The plan, he said, focuses on conserving groundwater and increasing the use of canal water for various purposes. This will be achieved by reducing groundwater demand, lowering agricultural water usage, improving irrigation techniques, and replenishing and artificially augmenting groundwater. Mann added that efforts will also focus on identifying sustainable water sources, exploring deep aquifers, and promoting the use of surface water. He noted that the government has already restored 17,000 water courses covering approximately 6,300 km, which had been abandoned for 30 to 40 years. Additionally, 79 canals spanning 545 km have also been restored. Mann approved a 14-point action plan that includes an effective irrigation strategy to ensure optimal water use in fields. The plan aims to bring around 15,79,379 hectares under water-efficient techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, moving away from conventional methods to reduce net water demand and increase efficiency.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Residents welcome Corpn. move to revamp Otteri Nullah, demand steps to remove encroachments
Many people living near Otteri Nullah face a crisis everyday. As untreated sewage and garbage accumulate in the waterbody, residents find the air becoming increasingly toxic by the day. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has rolled out a ₹65-crore plan to desilt and raise the walls of the 10.8-km-long Otteri Nullah. The maintenance of the canal was transferred from the Water Resources Department (WRD) to the GCC in October 2024. Meanwhile, residents say that unless the effluent discharge is stopped and encroachments removed, floods will continue to plague the city during monsoon, and health risks abound. Welcoming the GCC project, Sandhya Vedullapallai of the Federation of Anna Nagar Residents' Association said, 'A study to analyse the air quality, as well as measures to curb the release of effluents, such as household sewage and wastewater from factories in Pattaravakkam and Ambattur Industrial Estate, into the waterbody are crucial.' People living close to the canal need to replace their air conditioners every three months as the air is toxic, she added. According to her, dredging and rejuvenation alone will not fully prevent inundation in Anna Nagar and Perambur, and flood diversions have been planned to address this. Surplus water 'Flooding is mainly because of surplus water received by Otteri Nullah from Ayapakkam, Ambattur, Kolathur, and Villivakkam lakes during the monsoon. This leads to backflow of water from the Buckingham Canal, which in turn results in overflow from the canal,' Ms. Vedullapalli further said. According to J.M.S. Nagarajan of the Alliance of Residents' Welfare Associations and Anna Nagar Western Extension Association, a Madras High Court ruling had directed the Corporation Commissioner to look for encroachments adjacent to the Otteri Nullah, and remove them. 'But this exercise is yet to be undertaken. Encroachments and the dumping of garbage reduce the width of the Nullah considerably,' he added. Detailed Project Report The GCC's project is planned to be taken up in Royapuram, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, and Anna Nagar Zones (V, VI and VIII) from near Padi Flyover to Buckingham Canal. The DPR proposed bridge and infrastructure improvements, canal maintenance and desilting, pollution control, prevention of encroachments, and the creation of a blue-green corridor. 'Bathymetry and drone LiDAR surveys have been conducted for topographical and hydraulic assessment. The tender for this project is expected to be finalised on July 7. Work will begin after this. Roughly ₹5 crore is allocated for cleaning waste and desilting alone. The project includes the removal of 2.95 lakh cubic metres of sludge, plastic waste, and weeds, using machines that can dig up to 8 metres,' an official in the Storm Water Drain Department of the Chennai Corporation said. 'Bathymetry and drone LiDAR surveys have been conducted for topographical and hydraulic assessment. The tender for this project is expected to be finalised on July 7. Work will begin after this. Roughly ₹5 crore is allocated only for cleaning waste and desilting. The project includes the removal of 2.95 lakh cubic metres of sludge, plastic waste, and weeds using machines that can dig up to 8 metres,' said an official in the Storm Water Drain Department of the Chennai Corporation. Otteri Nullah GCC overview Canal Name: Otteri Nullah Length: 10.8 km Longest drainage channel with multiple connecting drains, prone to encroachments. The Otteri Nullah begins at the 100 Feet Road near Anna Nagar 18th Street and flows through Anna Nagar, RV Nagar, VOC Nagar, Kilpauk Garden, Kellys, Perambur, and Kannigapuram, before discharging into the North Buckingham Canal near Basin Bridge The maximum depth of Otteri Nullah is 2.5 metres, according to Greater Chennai Corporation' DPR. It carries a flood discharge of 3,600 cusecs as per WRD records. The canal intersects with 32 cross culverts and has 27 existing bridges, of which seven are identified as major bottlenecks. Flooding issues in Chennai's Urban Drainage system GCC noted that there is an increasing frequency of urban flooding as experienced in 1943, 1976, 1985, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2023 due to heavy rainfall and cyclonic activity. Hotspots After recurrent floods during the North-East Monsoon in 2017, 2021 and 2023, six flooding hotspots were identified along the canal: from Thirumangalam Road Bridge to GCC Park; along Anna Nagar 6th Avenue Road; near the K4 Police Station Bridge; in tree-lined street flanks; across the Avadi Road Bridge near a collection pond; and areas adjacent to SPR City and other high-rise developments, GCC's Detailed Project Report (DPR) stated.
