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Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Paddy transplanted in 1.75 lakh hectares so far — a 4-fold jump from last year
Paddy transplantation in Punjab has gained momentum, with official data showing nearly 1.75 lakh hectares covered by June 10 — more than fourfold of 40,000 hectares recorded in the consecutive period last year, indicating a substantial shift in the sowing patterns driven largely by a change in the state government's policy. On the contrary, agricultural experts and officials of the Punjab Agriculture Department have raised serious concerns over the implications of this policy, particularly due to the predominance of long-duration paddy varieties like Pusa-44 and Peeli Pusa in the early sowing phase, as these varieties typically require nearly 160 days from nursery to harvest and are known to be highly water-intensive. Also, these varieties are not recommended for sowing in Punjab. The early surge is attributed to the Punjab government's decision to advance official paddy transplantation date — from earlier June 10 or around mid-June to June 1 this year — aimed at reducing the moisture level in the crop at the time of harvesting in October. Groundwater concerns amid heatwave 'The early sowing of long-duration varieties under heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 44°C in several parts of the state, is problematic,' a senior officer of the Punjab Agriculture Department told The Indian Express. 'High temperatures evaporate water fast. As these varieties require frequent irrigation, especially in the initial 4-5 weeks, maintaining 2-3 inches of standing water is essential for the growth of paddy under the puddled transplanting system.' The ban on cultivating Pusa-44, previously imposed due to its high-water consumption and contribution to stubble burning, appears to have been ignored by a considerable number of farmers, facilitated by the earlier transplanting window. This has further aggravated groundwater depletion concerns, particularly in central and southern Punjab, already categorised as 'over-exploited zones' by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Sharing his experience, Jaspal Singh, a farmer from Patiala, said, 'Out of 10 acres, I've transplanted Pusa-44 on five acres. I began in the first week of June, and the crop would be ready by around October 15. It's a long-duration crop, but I prefer it because it gives a good yield and I can manage it better when sown earlier.' 'On the remaining five acres, I am planning to sow short and mid-duration varieties, which take around 120 to 140 days, including nursery time. These varieties are generally less water-intensive and align better with environmental recommendations, but give less yield than Pusa-44,' Jaspal added. Electricity demands spiked The early and widespread transplantation, on the other hand, has spiked electricity demand, as irrigation requirements soar, across the state. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has recently recorded a record-breaking power consumption triggered by agricultural load in some parts. Officials anticipate continued pressure on the grid amid mercury rising and intensified paddy transplantation. The Punjab Agriculture Department, which is closely monitoring the situation, has reiterated its advisory for staggered sowing to help balance water and electricity usage. Experts also encourage the use of short-duration and water-efficient paddy varieties, which reduce the crop cycle to around 120-130 days and are less taxing on groundwater. In light of the ongoing climate crisis, growing energy demand and critical groundwater depletion, environmentalists and agronomists emphasise the need for urgent crop diversification and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. 'We are trying our best to convince farmers to do away with long-duration paddy varieties because the consequence they face in terms of boring their tubewells deeper into the ground every few years,' Punjab Agricultural Department Director Jaswant Singh said. 'As the paddy season progresses, the state finds itself standing at a crucial juncture, balancing the economic imperatives of farmers with the environmental sustainability of its agricultural heartland,' another official said.
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
India cannot resolve its food challenge without fixing how it uses water
Written by Anushka Bandyopadhyay, Raktimava Bose and Saurabh Bandyopadhyay Water underpins nearly every aspect of human well-being, from food security and sanitation to clean energy and public health. Yet, as cities expand, industries grow, and agriculture continues to dominate water use, we are confronting a sobering reality. In many parts of the world, water demand now exceeds what nature can sustainably supply. In India, farming remains the largest consumer, but domestic and industrial use is rising fast. Although India supports nearly 18 per cent of the global population, it possesses only 4 per cent of the world's freshwater resources. A significant portion of this limited supply, ranging from 78 to 90 per cent, depending on the source, is consumed by agriculture alone. The result is a widening gap between what we need and what we have. India's emergence as a global agricultural leader is undeniable. It is the world's largest producer of milk and spices, and the second-largest producer of fruits, vegetables, and fish. But this success hides a deeper crisis: Our water resources are being depleted faster than they can be replenished. Over 80 per cent of India's freshwater withdrawals go to agriculture, much of it lost to inefficient and unsustainable use. In Punjab, groundwater levels are falling by more than one metre every year, driven by the expansion of paddy cultivation and free electricity. According to the Central Ground Water Board, 78 per cent of Punjab's administrative blocks are now over-exploited, up from 50 per cent in 2004. India is, quite literally, eating its way into a groundwater emergency. What makes this worse is that our input-intensive, water-thirsty model isn't even delivering on its core promise, that is, nutrition. Despite achieving food self-sufficiency, nutrition outcomes remain poor. NFHS-5 data show that 35.5 per cent of children under five are stunted, 32.1 per cent are underweight, and 16.6 per cent of the population remains undernourished. This mismatch between food security and nutritional security reflects a deeper flaw: Our incentives prioritise calorie-rich crops like rice and wheat, backed by water subsidies, at the cost of more nutritious, climate-resilient alternatives. Irrigation, often seen as part of the problem, can also be part of the solution, if managed right. Beyond boosting yields, smart irrigation allows diversification into pulses, vegetables, and oilseeds, which improves household nutrition. It ensures fodder for livestock, raises rural incomes, and reduces distress migration. If used wisely, irrigation can help India grow not just more food, but better food. The roots of the imbalance lie in flawed policy choices. In Punjab, the Green Revolution displaced traditional crops with paddy, and free electricity drove indiscriminate use of deep tubewells. In Maharashtra, sugarcane, grown on just 4 per cent of agricultural land, uses over 70 per cent of the state's irrigation water. The impact is especially severe in drought-prone districts like Solapur. Gujarat, however, offers a model of reform. The Jyotigram Yojana, launched in the early 2000s, separated agricultural and domestic power feeders and introduced metered irrigation supply. The result — a 20 per cent drop in groundwater extraction and wider adoption of micro-irrigation in water-scarce regions like Saurashtra and Kutch. India needs a two-pronged approach: Increase water availability in underused regions like eastern India, and sharply reduce demand in over-extracted zones, especially the northwest. First, we must rethink incentives. Minimum support prices (MSPs) should be aligned with agro-ecological realities. Supporting millets, pulses, and oilseeds through procurement in rainfed areas can align sustainability with dietary diversity. The 2023 declaration of the International Year of Millets was a welcome step, but it must be backed by consistent fiscal support, market access, and consumer awareness. Second, we need smarter pricing of water and electricity. Though politically difficult, pilot projects suggest farmers do respond to price signals if better options are available. In Andhra Pradesh, prepaid smart meters on pumps led to a 15 per cent drop in electricity use and greater adoption of drip systems. When paired with efficient technology, pricing can nudge behaviour without coercion. Third, India must scale up micro-irrigation. Despite 74 million hectares under irrigation, only 12 per cent is covered by drip and sprinkler systems. These can save 30 to 70 per cent of water depending on the crop and terrain. The main barriers, high upfront costs and limited awareness, can be overcome with public-private models, equipment leasing, and targeted subsidies for small and marginal farmers. Fourth, and perhaps most crucial, is investing in farmer-led water literacy. Reforms will fail unless farmers change how they perceive and value water. Many still equate abundance with security, unaware that overuse today threatens tomorrow's resilience. Community-led initiatives like water user associations, participatory irrigation management, and groundwater audits, as in Maharashtra's Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan, can embed conservation into daily practice and foster collective action. India cannot resolve its food challenge without fixing how it uses water. Water must be treated as a finite economic resource, not a limitless political entitlement. This requires tough but essential reforms — rethinking subsidies, realigning procurement, pricing inputs rationally, and building trust with farmers. In an era of rising climate uncertainty, India must shift from growing crops based on political arithmetic to those based on hydrological logic and nutritional need. The writers are associated with the National Council of Applied Economic Research. Views are personal
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
BMC launches aquifer mapping project along Mithi river to enhance water supply resources
Eyeing to enhance Mumbai's water supply resources, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a pilot project along the Mithi river basin to carry out a geophysical study and mapping of groundwater levels to determine its quality and quantity. Slated to be conducted over the course of one year, the project will undertake aquifer mapping with the aim of developing new public recharge systems like borewells. The study is in line with the National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) programme by the Central Ground Water Board, which was initiated by the Jal Shakti Ministry in 2012 to prepare the area specific groundwater management plans. While the CGWB has been conducting its own mapping across the country over the past two years, the BMC's pilot project is an independent study, being carried out by its environment and climate change department. The mapping project, according to officials, is aimed at making Mumbai's existing water resources future proof in the wake of the climate crisis. Currently, Mumbai draws its potable water from seven lakes, situated in Mumbai as well as neighbouring districts like Thane, Palghar and Nashik. It is during the four monsoon months that these lakes are replenished, with the water from their catchment area supplied across the city throughout the year through a complex network of water channels. 'Mumbai presently is entirely dependent on the surface level water with all its resources and lakes situated far away from the city. However, in light of the climate change crisis, if Mumbai were not to receive adequate rain for two years, it can face the brunt of severe water scarcity. To establish new means of resources in a coastal city like Mumbai, we will have to tap into the groundwater levels for which we will need to conduct a study by digging the surface and examine the salinity of underground water, considering Mumbai's proximity to the coasts,' said an official. With the aim of identifying appropriate zones to develop new public recharge systems, the civic body has now taken up the cudgels to conduct mapping and study of aquifer levels beneath the surface. This is the first time that the civic body is conducting such a study, officials said. For its pilot project, the BMC will commence the study along the Mithi river basin as it serves as the biggest natural catchment area in Mumbai and passes through Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Speaking to The Indian Express, an official said the project will first look at the geophysical survey to determine the geology and make-up of the soil. 'Following this, we will carry out a geochemical survey wherein we will conduct sampling of the soil, rock and water quality. Then, we will do thematic mapping through which we will determine the confined and unconfined zone. On the basis of our mapping, we can plan the appropriate means of a recharge structure,' the official added. Recently, the BMC floated tenders for the supply of equipment for the collection of data for the aquifer mapping project. Pegged to cost over Rs 25 lakh, equipment such as 300 water quality testing kits, manual rain gauge, GPS devices, measuring tapes of upto 30 m lengths, water level loggers and sounders will be procured to conduct the pilot mapping work. Meanwhile, the civic body has already started identifying borewells and ringwells along the Mithi river, wherein the study will be carried out. Spanning 17.8 km, the Mithi river originates at Vihar Lake and flows through several zones encompassing slum areas, industrial pockets as well residential zones, before it discharges into Mahim creek. 'If our pilot project along Mithi succeeds, we will try to replicate the project across the rest of the city. Ultimately, our objective with the project is to strengthen Mumbai's water supply resources,' said the official.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Surplus rain sends groundwater level up in Trichy
There is good news for Trichiites on the drinking water front. Despite soaring temperatures, groundwater levels are higher than last year in Trichy as well as most central districts, thanks to surplus unseasonal rains since March and a good monsoon last year. The surge is helping the region meet its drinking water requirements. In Trichy, the groundwater level was at 5 metre below ground level in April compared to 7.91 metre in the same month last year, indicating a difference of 2.83 metre. The level was also higher in Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Karur, Perambalur, and Ariyalur and lower than last year in Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Mayiladuthurai districts. "The occasional unseasonal rain has augmented groundwater tables for the past few months. Hence, the levels are higher than last year despite hot temperatures now," a senior official of the water resources department in Trichy said. According to officials at the regional meteorological centre of Indian Meteorological Department in Chennai, the surplus rainwater is replenishing underground acquifers. In Trichy, the state water resources department and Central Ground Water Board monitor groundwater levels at 142 observation wells every month. Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board observes the levels at 47 observation wells twice a year. Similarly, the levels in other districts are also observed. TWAD Board sources told TOI that they observed a rise in the height of the groundwater level from 20 metre in May 2024 to 13 metre in January 2025 after a good northeast monsoon. "The level is rising again after January due to unseasonal rains. The availability helps us (TWAD) and local bodies to supply drinking water as per requirements," a TWAD official said. The rainfall boost has not aided districts like Thanjavur and Pudukottai unlike other central districts like Trichy, Perambalur, and Ariyalur. The levels were lower than last year in those two districts. Darwin Annadurai, an environmental scientist and founder of Eco Society India, said, "Despite monsoon and unseasonal rains, groundwater levels may not be high as expected when the extraction is higher than recharge. When there is higher extraction for purposes such as drinking water, agriculture, and industries, or when there are environmental damages like excavation, the groundwater levels may not be high in comparison. " With Mettur dam scheduled to open on June 12 and Cauvery river water expected to arrive in the days that follow, officials and experts said the groundwater level will rise further due to recharge caused by river water percolation.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
For groundwater depletion, Bilaspur admn mulls GPS on borewell drillers
Raipur: Amid concerns over continuous depletion in groundwater levels, the Bilaspur district administration is planning to install GPS tracking systems on all borewell drilling machines to monitor and curb unauthorised and illegal groundwater extraction by digging during the summer months. The initiative aims to track the real-time movement and operations of these machines. Bilaspur collector Sanjay Agrawal convened a meeting with borewell drilling contractors on Saturday, underscoring the critical need for water conservation and seeking their cooperation in this endeavour. Approximately 50 contractors were present at the meeting. "We are planning to implement the GPS installation method, which is currently in its initial phase," Agrawal informed to a report by the Central Ground Water Board, the collector highlighted its concerning findings. Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Tensions Live Updates: India hits back after Pakistan violates ceasefire; Nagrota sentry hurt in brief gunfire Operation Sindoor Live Updates: Drones shot down at multiple places in J&K as Pakistan violates bilateral understanding Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal "Only 2% of groundwater is used for drinking, 13% for industrial purposes, and a significant 85% is consumed in agricultural production," Agrawal said during the meeting with contractors and PHE (public health engineering) also informed the contractors and PHE officials about the alarming decline in the groundwater table in Bilaspur. He noted that while groundwater was accessible at a depth of 80-90 ft in the 1990s, it has become challenging to find water even at 300 ft now. "Every five years, the groundwater level is depleting by approximately 50 ft, which is a matter of serious concern. I visited Bija in Takhatpur tehsil on Saturday, and residents informed me that the groundwater level plummeted to 600 ft," the district collector collector emphasised the growing concern regarding groundwater preservation and stressed that stringent measures are essential for effective water conservation. "Natural resources are not the entitlement of just one or two generations," Mr Agrawal remarked, asserting that misuse wouldn't be PHE officials were unable to provide data on the number of borewells used for agricultural purposes in the district when queried by the collector during the meeting. However, the collector mentioned that he sought the data. Regarding the total number of tubewells and borewells in the rural areas of the district, the collector stated that their count is approximately 9, the meet, the collector directed strict adherence to the regulations governing borewell drilling and appealed to the contractors to actively participate in water conservation efforts. Amid increasing concerns of water scarcity , the mechanical division of PHE has been entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing this directive, ensuring monitoring of all borewell drilling activitiesRaipur: Amid concerns over continuous depletion in groundwater levels, the Bilaspur district administration is planning to install GPS tracking systems on all borewell drilling machines to monitor and curb unauthorised and illegal groundwater extraction by digging during the summer months. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Affordable Apartments Available for Rent in Binh Tri Dong B – Find Your Ideal Home Today! Apartments for rent | Search Ads Learn More Undo The initiative aims to track the real-time movement and operations of these machines. Bilaspur collector Sanjay Agrawal convened a meeting with borewell drilling contractors on Saturday, underscoring the critical need for water conservation and seeking their cooperation in this endeavour. Approximately 50 contractors were present at the meeting. "We are planning to implement the GPS installation method, which is currently in its initial phase," Agrawal informed to a report by the Central Ground Water Board, the collector highlighted its concerning findings. "Only 2% of groundwater is used for drinking, 13% for industrial purposes, and a significant 85% is consumed in agricultural production," Agrawal said during the meeting with contractors and PHE (public health engineering) also informed the contractors and PHE officials about the alarming decline in the groundwater table in Bilaspur. He noted that while groundwater was accessible at a depth of 80-90 ft in the 1990s, it has become challenging to find water even at 300 ft now. "Every five years, the groundwater level is depleting by approximately 50 ft, which is a matter of serious concern. I visited Bija in Takhatpur tehsil on Saturday, and residents informed me that the groundwater level plummeted to 600 ft," the district collector collector emphasised the growing concern regarding groundwater preservation and stressed that stringent measures are essential for effective water conservation. "Natural resources are not the entitlement of just one or two generations," Mr Agrawal remarked, asserting that misuse wouldn't be PHE officials were unable to provide data on the number of borewells used for agricultural purposes in the district when queried by the collector during the meeting. However, the collector mentioned that he sought the data. Regarding the total number of tubewells and borewells in the rural areas of the district, the collector stated that their count is approximately 9, the meet, the collector directed strict adherence to the regulations governing borewell drilling and appealed to the contractors to actively participate in water conservation efforts. Amid increasing concerns of water scarcity, the mechanical division of PHE has been entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing this directive, ensuring monitoring of all borewell drilling activities
