GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT THROUGH WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN PUNJAB Dr. S. K. Jain, Regional Director, M. L. Angurala, Scientist-D Central Ground Water Board- NWR Chandigarh

Punjab state

Aquifer system in Punjab Saline Water Aquifer System In South Western Punjab Fresh Water Aquifer System In North And Central Punjab

Ground water scenario in Punjab MAY 2015 MAY 1985

Ground water scenario in Punjab

Behaviour of water level in fresh water aquifers Patiala and Sangrur district

Behaviour of water level in Fresh water aquifers of Bathinda and Amritsar districts

Behaviour of water level in saline water aquifers of Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts

Behaviour of water level in saline water aquifers of Ferozpurand Muktsar districts

District wise categorization of blocks of Punjab state as on 31. 03 S. N. District Total Blocks Over-Exploited Critical Semi-Critical Safe 1 AMRITSAR 8 - 2 BARNALA 3 BATHINDA 7 4 FARIDKOT 5 FATEH GARH SAHIB 6 FEROZEPUR 10 GURDASPUR 14 HOSHIARPUR 9 JALANDHAR KAPURTHALA 11 LUDHIANA 12 MANSA 13 MOGA MUKTSAR 15 NAWAN SHAHR 16 PATIALA 17 ROPAR 18 MOHALI 19 SANGRUR 20 TARN TARAN Total 138 110 22

GROUND WATER QUALITY The Electric Conductance values of water samples from shallow aquifer range from 198 to 8415 µS/cm at 25°C. 40 % of water samples have EC less than 750, 51% have between 750 and 3000 and the remaining 9% of the samples have EC above 3000µS/cm.

WATER CONSERVATION

RAIN WATER HARVESTING In the Over-exploited blocks, farm Ponds (recharge Pits) will help in accelerating ground water recharge. A program for construction of farm ponds be launched emphasizing the concept of “Khet Ka Pani Khet Me”

Use of treated sewerage water by farmers in Dasuya and Sultanpur Lodhi blocks in Punjab tttt

Solar Power Based Presurised Pipe Irrigation By Group Of Farmers In Kandi Belt In Hoshiarpur District

Improving the Conveyance Efficiency: There are around 11.78 lakh tube wells in the state and out of which around 10.2 Lakh are operated by farmers for irrigation through unlined/Katcha open channel system to discharge water from the tube well to the agricultural field. In this process huge (up to 30%) quantity of ground water is lost as seepage, leakage and evaporation. Around 73% of the tube wells are of shallow depth (< 70m) and remaining are deeper (70-150 m) with few wells of > 150 m depth. Thus majority of wells are tapping Aquifer group-1 which is under stress due to overexploitation.

Improving the Conveyance Efficiency: The overall efficiency of the irrigation systems in the fields varies from 30 to 40% which can be increased to 60 to 70 % by adopting efficient water management strategies. by adopting Under Ground Pipe Line system, the water lost by seepage, leakage and evaporation during conveyance from source to the crops can be reduced. In addition to it, 3-4% of land occupied by open water channels can be brought under cultivation.

Precision land leveling Precision land leveling gives much better results than the earlier devices. Benefits of Laser leveling are: More level and smooth surface. Reduces time and water required to irrigate the field. Uniform distribution of water in the field. Uniform moisture environment of the crops. Uniform germination and growth of crops.

Irrigation Scheduling Proper scheduling of irrigation to crops is an important component of water saving technologies. A tensiometer is used to schedule the irrigation in the paddy fields can upto 30 % of water. Avoid flood irrigation and adopt improved irrigation methods like Furrow Irrigated Raised Beds and Furrow Irrigation method in wide row crops

Renovation of Village Ponds The Village Ponds Have Now Become Dumping Ground For Domestic Waste Water. The Quality Of Pond Water Is Not Only Suitable For Irrigation But Loaded With Nutrients, It Needs To Be Utilized Suitably After Natural Treatment For Direct Irrigation Use.

Renovation of village ponds In Seechewal village, district Jalandhar (Pb), the sewerage and waste water is collected through underground Pipeline in a pond. This pond has been modified for treatment of waste water from the village. After treatment, this treated waste water is supplied through 5HP pump for irrigation over a command area of more than 10 acres. The farmers using this waste water for irrigation stated that “ground water abstraction, use of fertilizers and electricity has eventually banished”. There is need to extend this model to all villages of the state as it will in reducing environmental degradation, less power consumption, reduced stress on ground water and use of fewer fertilizers.

Conclusions The erratic cropping pattern along with obsolete agricultural practices has created a hydrological imbalance in Punjab. The increasing dependence on ground water has resulted in over exploitation of ground water resources. Strategies for the rational use of water have to be adopted. All stake holders i.e. the scientists, researchers, extension workers and farmers should join hand to save this precious resource.

Conclusions- Contd. The State ground Water Authority should be set up on lines of Central Ground water authority to regulate and control the Ground Water Development. There need to revamp agricultural power supply and pricing structure. Farmer, the ultimate user of water he needs to be made aware of the griming situation of water resources and the techniques of water conservation. Community participation at village level may encouraged