Groundwater depletion in 42% of Punjab wells: RS MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney

Amritsar: Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney raised serious concern over the rapid depletion of groundwater in Punjab.Citing an official reply by the ministry of jal shakti to his question in the Rajya Sabha, Sahney said on Monday that Central Ground Water Board data revealed that while around 57% of monitored wells showed a marginal rise, an alarming over 42% of wells across the state recorded a decline in groundwater levels. He said that the assessment was conducted post-monsoon 2025, a period when Punjab witnessed the worst floods in its modern history, making the findings even more disturbing. Nearly 9% of wells now have groundwater deeper than 40 metres, particularly in key agricultural districts like Sangrur, Barnala, Patiala, Moga and Malerkotla. Urban districts such as Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda are also under stress, with most wells in the 10–40 metre depth range. Sahney expressed anguish that despite repeated requests, Punjab was excluded from the Atal Bhujal Yojana, and urged the Union govt to announce an urgent, Punjab-specific groundwater revival and crop diversification package, warning of an impending irreversible water crisis. MSID:: 127860853 413 |