Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the Punjab government’s water revival mission has started showing encouraging results, with groundwater levels improving by 3 to 5 metres in several blocks across the state.
Addressing a press conference, Cheema said the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has launched a large-scale programme to tackle Punjab’s long-standing water crisis through canal rejuvenation, restoration of water channels and groundwater recharge projects.
Cheema said that decades of excessive groundwater extraction had pushed water tables to alarming depths, forcing farmers to drill deeper borewells and increase electricity usage for agricultural pumps. To address the problem, the government has undertaken a comprehensive revival of the state’s irrigation network.
According to the minister, nearly 16,000 kilometres of water channels have been constructed or revived, while around 39,049 cusecs of water has been released into canals to ensure that irrigation water reaches farmers even in tail-end areas.
Highlighting the impact of the initiative, Cheema said the increased availability of mineral-rich canal water has not only helped recharge groundwater but has also improved agricultural productivity. He claimed that wheat and paddy yields have increased by 1 to 2 quintals per acre, resulting in higher income for farmers.
Finance Minister added that reduced dependence on groundwater has also lowered electricity consumption and contributed to significant energy savings.
Cheema further said that municipal councils and municipal corporations in several cities have made rainwater recharge points mandatory for approval of site plans for new buildings. The state government has also approved a large number of groundwater recharge projects to ensure that rainwater is absorbed into the ground rather than being wasted.
He said a total of 510 recharge schemes have been implemented, including 192 pond-based projects and 246 canal-based recharge projects.
Emphasising the government’s long-term vision, Cheema said Punjab is committed to sustainable water management and conservation for the benefit of farmers, the environment and future generations.
He added that the government is following the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, who regarded water as a precious lifeline for all living beings and not merely as a resource for agriculture.
