Status of water resources in Punjab and its management strategies

J. Indian Water Journal Resour. Soc. Vol. 28 Water of Indian No. 3, July, 2008 Resources Society Vol. 28 No. 3, July, 2008 STATUS OF WATER RESOURCES IN PUNJAB AND ITS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Ajay Kumar Vashisht ABSTRACT Punjab is an important granary state of India. Introduction of tubewell and canal irrigation coupled with other management practices during the last 45 years has helped in boosting agricultural production and witnessing all round development in Punjab. Presently, all the surface and groundwater resources are fully explored. In spite of this, the total water available for irrigation is able to meet less than 75 percent of total water requirement and is expected to decrease further in future to meet the growing demand of other users. Moreover, indiscriminate exploitation of these water resources has created hydrological imbalance, which is a matter of concern for the agricultural sustainability in the state. The introduction of the canal network in the south-western Punjab and non-exploitation of its native brackish groundwater has resulted in rise of water table, waterlogging and salinity problems. On the contrary, the water table has declined to critical levels (more than 10 m) due to over exploitation of good quality groundwater in the central Punjab. Strategies for effective water management for the state, which include the reducing groundwater withdrawal, increasing groundwater recharge in overexploited area and conjunctive use of blended brackish groundwater and canal water for irrigation have been discussed. In nutshell, this paper presents an overview of the present status of groundwater draft, recharge and strategies needed for sustainable use of groundwater. Keywords: Water resources status, water management, groundwater recharge, management of brackish aquifers INTRODUCTION Out of the total irrigated area, the area under irrigation by groundwater through tube wells has shown Punjab having geographical area of about 50,362 an increase from 55 to 72 percent during this period km2 (1.54 percent of the country’s geographical area) with the corresponding decrease in the area under is divided into 17 districts with 141 blocks and is irrigation by canals (Fig. 1). There has also been a predominantly an agrarian state. About 80 percent of spectacular increase in the number of tube wells from the state’s geographical area is cultivated with cropping 0.19 to more than 1.15 million during this period. The intensity of more than 180 percent during 2005-06 state has been experiencing considerable decrease in (Anonymous, 2008a). The agriculture in the state is, annual rainfall since mid-90s. The annual average rainfall therefore, dependent upon heavy requirement of water. has decreased from 739.1 mm in 1980 to 565.9 mm in In 2005-06, 84 percent of the total cropped area was 2005 (Fig. 2). The state’s surface water resources are under wheat and paddy crops. Area under paddy limited and are fully utilized, and thus, to meet the ever- cultivation is drastically increased from 54 percent in growing demand for agriculture, urban and rural 1970-71 to 76 percent in 2005-06, whereas for wheat population, and industry, dependency on groundwater crop, this increase is marginal (i.e. from 88 to 91 percent) has been increasing enormously. Due to increase in during this period (Anonymous, 2008a). number of tube wells, water table is declining in about Dept. of Irrig. & Drain. Engg., G. B. Pant Univ. of Agric. & Tech., 80 percent of the area in the state where groundwater Pantnagar, Uttarakhand is fit for irrigation. In the central Punjab, where around 1  J. Indian Water Resour. Soc. Vol. 28 No. 3, July, 2008 Fig. 1 Net area irrigated with different sources in Punjab Fig. 2 Annual average rainfall in Pubjab 66 percent of total tubewells are located, water table is declining at a rate 54 cm per year in few patches (Aulakh, 2004). The excessive decline in water table is resulting in low discharge of tube wells, deepening of pits and tube wells, replacement of low cost centrifugal pumps with costlier submersible pumps and increased energy cost, thereby affecting the socio-economic condition of small farmers of the state. As per the survey conducted by the Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, sale of centrifugal pumps has been decreased to 22 percent in the year 2003-04 whereas the sale of submersible pumps has been increased to 32 percent in the stated year. Available Sources of Water For any particular region, available water sources Fig. 3 Three distinct zones of Punjab state. comprise: (i) rainfall (ii) surface water from canal networks and (iii) the groundwater. Being integral parts the total geographical area of the state. Gurdaspur, of the hydrologic cycle, these three water sources are Hoshiarpur, Nawanshehar, and Ropar are the districts associated to each other. Present status of all the three come underneath this zone (Fig. 3). Average annual stated water resources in Punjab is discussed below. rainfall in the zone is 936 mm. Moreover, about 4500- Rainfall km2 area of this zone is severely affected by soil and water erosion due to steep slope of the Shivalik foothills In Punjab, the annual average rainfall is 580 mm, (36 percent) and high rainfall (average annual rainfall which is highly erratic in distribution in time and space. 1100 mm). Mavi et al. (1994) worked out the total annual rainfall over cropped area of Punjab equal to 1.57 million Central zone: This zone, which comprises districts hectare-metre (Mha-m). Around eighty percent of the namely Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, total rainfall is received during 3 to 4 months of the Fatehgarh, Sangrur and Patiala, is covering 47 percent monsoon period. Hydrologically, Punjab can be divided of the total geographical area of the state (Fig. 3). into three zones, viz. North-Eastern Shivalik foothill Average annual rainfall of the zone is 709 mm. (Kandi) zone; Central zone; and South-Western zone (Fig. 3). Southwestern zone: It comprises 34 percent of the geographical area of the state in districts of Ferozepur, Shivalik foothill zone: This zone comprises an area Faridkot, Mukatsar, Mansa, Moga and Bathinda (Fig. approximately 9600-km2, which is around 19 percent of 3). Average annual rainfall in the zone is 342 mm. 2  J. Indian Water Resour. Soc. Vol. 28 No. 3, July, 2008 Surface water Zone wise change in area under two groundwater depth ranges i.e. 0-5 m and 15-20 m for the period 1980- The Directorate of Water Resources, Punjab, 2004 is shown in Figs. 5 & 6. Perusal of the Figures assesses the availability of the surface water in the state. reveals that the water table has fallen to the maximum Out of the total surface water resources available, extent for the central zone. Till year 2000, southern zone Punjab’s share is about 1.80 Mha-m. The total surface represented reverse trend (i.e. water table was rising) water available annually is 1.45 Mha-m, which irrigates as compared to other two zones. This reverse trend about 1.54 Mha-cultivated areas. The utilization of can be dedicated to the non-withdrawal of brackish surface water through canal network each year depends groundwater along with dense canal network in the upon the water released from the reservoirs, which are zone. Takshi and Chopra (2004) after studying the water contingent on the river inflows. table behavior for the period 1984-2002 reveals that it has fallen in about 80 percent of the state’s geographical Groundwater area. The average fall of water table is more than 28 Punjab state has sweet groundwater with Electrical cm per year in 23 percent of the state area. Considering Conductivity (EC) values less than 2000 micro-mhos the present trend of fall in water table, it is estimated per centimeter (µmhos/cm) at 25°C and Residual Sodium that by 2020, more than 30 percent of the state area Carbonate (RSC) less than 2.5 milli-equivalent per litre would be clubbed to the area where water level is already (me/lit.) in nearly 80 percent of its gross geographical beyond the critical level of 10 meters depth. area. The replenishable groundwater in the state is mainly Shivalik foothill zone: Groundwater quality of this zone generated from the following sources: is excellent, but not easy to explore and pump, as water a. Infiltration due to rainfall table is fairly deep in most parts of the zone. Moreover, b. Seepage from canals system this zone is now showing slight rise in water table due c. Return flow from surface irrigation. to the construction of series of small dams and check structures. Rainfall and seepage from canal networks contribute 1.65 Mha-m of water to groundwater (Aulakh, Central zone: The over exploitation of good quality 2004). The area having water table depth below 10 m groundwater due to intensive cropping, this zone is has increased from 3 percent in 1973 to 53 percent in experiencing the maximum decline in water table (Fig. 2000 (Hira and Khera, 2000) and further swelled to 76 5). percent in 2002. As stated in section 1, that presently Southwestern zone: The long-term rise of water table more than 1.15 million electric and diesel pump sets are studied by Takshi and Chopra (2004) for 1984-2002 in use for pumping groundwater for irrigation. Therefore reveals that water table is rising in about 20 percent of the water table is declining at an alarming rate in the the state’s geographical area, out of which average rise fresh water zone of the state. Presently, the stage of of water table is more than 20 cm per year in about 50 groundwater development is more than 145 percent percent of the rising water table area. Native (Anonymous, 2008b). Distribution of blocks depending groundwater of the zone is highly brackish, however upon the stage of groundwater development is shown still some good quality water in thin layers floats over in Fig. 4. Out of total 141 blocks, 103 are ‘over exploited’ brackish groundwater due to seepage from canal i.e. where groundwater exploitation is more than 85 systems in the zone. percent of annual recharge and further exploitation is not permitted as per the norms laid down by Govt. of Water Required India and as such no groundwater development schemes are financed by financial institutions. Out of Total water demand comprises water required to the rest, 5 blocks fall under ‘critical’ range, where there meet the evapo-transpiration (ET) of all crops, forests, is limited scope of further groundwater development domestic, municipal and industrial use. Parihar et al. and 4 under ‘semi-critical’ category. Rest of the blocks (1993) estimated the total water requirement be equal is under ‘white’ category, where most of the blocks have to 4.37 Mha-m. Thus, there is a water deficit of 1.24 brackish to saline groundwater, which is unfit for Mha-m as available water supply is only 3.13 Mha-m. agricultural purposes. The above mentioned truth warns us about the prevailing 3  J. Indian Water Resour. Soc. Vol. 28 No. 3, July, 2008 Reducing Water Withdrawal: In the state, major share of water is taken by Rice-Wheat cropping system. This is due to high ET requirements i.e. 60 cm for June 10 transplanted rice, and 40 cm for wheat (Hira, 2004). Therefore, it is the requirement of the present situation that the traditional cropping pattern should be changed immediately possible, such as during Rabi season, wheat may be replaced with oilseeds & millets and during Kharif season, rice may be replaced with cotton, maize, pulses, basmati rice and oilseeds. Moreover, there is a need to strictly switch over the technologies related to soil and agronomic management that save water without Fig. 4 Distribution of blocks of Pubjab depending upon a loss in crop yields, leading to higher productivity per the groundwater development stage unit use of water (water use efficiency). These technologies include planting and transplanting time of situation and warrants the urgent need for efficient crops, irrigation scheduling, irrigation methods, straw management of water resources in the agricultural mulching, and tillage. Efficient on-farm water sector. management practices including modern methods of irrigation (sprinkler, drip, furrow etc.) should be Management Strategies propagated by imparting regular trainings to farmers and Effective water management strategies can be field functionaries. For using available water resources grouped into three groups: effectively and efficiently, water users’ associations/ societies should be constituted. 1. To reduce water withdrawal 2. To increase recharging of groundwater in water Increasing Groundwater Recharge: Various table declining zones measures/technologies for enhancing artificial 3. Efficient management of brackish water aquifers. groundwater recharge are discussed in the following sections: Fig. 5 Zone wise change in area under the groundwater depth range of 0.5 m from year 1980 to 2004 4  J. Indian Water Resour. Soc. Vol. 28 No. 3, July, 2008 Fig. 6 Zone wise change in area under groundwater depth range of 15-20 m from year 1980 to 2004 Construction of check structures in drains: A good management through terracing, land leveling, contour network of available surface drains (3400 km length, bunding, soil management through contour and mostly in the central Punjab) can be utilized for artificial conservation tillage, mulch farming etc. groundwater recharge using surplus runoff water during rainy season through canal network (Khepar, 2003). The Recharging of groundwater by existing or recharging of groundwater aquifers through surface excavating village ponds: In earlier times, the village drains can be enhanced by constructing check structures ponds were used to store runoff water and as drinking across the drains at suitable intervals, to create pools and bathing facility for animals. In water scarce areas for storage of water and steering this stored water to like Kandi belt, these ponds were used even for drinking the aquifer through recharging bores or recharge shafts purposes by human beings. The ponds used to dry up excavated for the purpose. Khepar et al. (1998) before the monsoons due to infiltration of water in the conducted feasibility study at Rohti drain crossing deeper layers of earth and eventually recharge Patiala-Nabha road near third feeder canal crossing, to groundwater. The silt deposited in the ponds used to be examine the recharge through drains by constructing removed by the villagers for plastering their kucha series of check structures across drain and installing houses (houses made from clayey soil along with other series of recharge shafts in case drain is underlain by woody material). Thus, desilting of ponds was an annual comparatively more impervious strata. phenomenon, which would indirectly cleanse the ponds as well as increase their storage capacity. During the Groundwater recharging in Kandi area: In Kandi last few decades, urbanization played a major role in area, out of total annual rainfall of 1100 mm, a substantial changing the socio-economic conditions of villagers. fraction of rainfall of about 40 percent is converted to Moreover, kucha houses are now replaced with runoff during rainy season. Reduction in runoff to about concrete houses and silt deposited in the ponds is no 20 percent by adopting different soil and water more required for plastering. Mentioned reasons are conservation practices can provide additional 0.1 Mha- responsible for converting these ponds to sewage water m water annually and this may increase water table in ponds, as the inflow now includes mostly detergent and/ central Punjab. These conservation measures include or water from bathrooms, oily and solid wastes from construction of water harvesting structures, slope kitchens, and dung laden water from animal sheds 5  J. Indian Water Resour. Soc. Vol. 28 No. 3, July, 2008 washing etc. All the solids thus go on accumulating in height of field bunds, sufficient water can be ponded in the pond, resulting in steady decline in its infiltration and the field and will be recharged, which otherwise goes storage capacity over time. Moreover, whatever amount waste as runoff. of this polluted water is recharged is further contaminating the native groundwater. In others words, Recharge through tube wells: It is a well-accepted natural fresh water recharging structures are converted fact that recharging through wells is a viable mean to into pollutants recharging structures. Concerned village replenish the declining water table. Studies conducted panchayats should take it seriously and urged the in PAU, Ludhiana have shown that cavity tube wells residents to divert only septic tank water to drains can be successfully used as irrigation-cum-recharge leading to such ponds which is comparatively sludge wells. Moreover, by constructing efficient filtering and germ free. Total barren, un-culturable land, land device, screened wells can also be conveniently used put to non-agriculture use, and culturable waste lands for the recharging purpose. in the state comprise an area about 5160-km2 Recharge through dug wells: In early times, dug wells (Anonymous, 2008). These wastelands could be used were the only source of fresh water. These days, it is for excavating new ponds for storing runoff and uncommon to see a working dug well, as either such recharging purposes. Ponds can also be used for wells are refilled or are covered to avoid any accident. irrigating crops, as its water is rich in nutrients (Chawla Further, now majority of such wells are without water et al. 2001). since water table is continuously declining. These Recharge promotion around major rivers: Water abandoned dug wells could be used for recharging flowing in the major rivers viz. Sutluj, Beas and Ravi groundwater if runoff or rooftop water is diverted toward during monsoon or rest of the year can be diverted these wells. towards natural and artificial drains, by constructing Roof top rainwater harvesting: There is an urgent barrages at suitable locations. need for harvesting every drop of rainwater, since this Recharge from East and West Beins: Beins are the is the major source of replenishment of groundwater. natural drains flowing in Doaba region and ending in For more than 5000 years, rainwater harvesting has river Sutlej. Bein situated in the eastern side is known formed part of Indian traditions, and over centuries, they as White Bein and the Bein situated in the western side have developed a range of techniques, to harvest rain as Black Bein. Presently, these Beins are uncared-for water to the last drop. Roof top rainwater harvesting is as for example, White Bein is used for draining untreated one of such techniques. It has been estimated that about polluted water from paper mills and Black Bein is 11.44 km3 of rainwater could be harvested through covered with waterweeds, thus hampering natural flow. rooftops in India, which is approximately 30% of the For promoting the recharge of water through these domestic water requirement of the country (Taneja and Beins, two ways are suggested as: Aggarwal, 2004). The ever increasing population and urbanization is decreasing agricultural land, which is the i. By widening and re-grading the beds of Beins, natural means of surface water recharging. This raising the banks of Beins within their respective valuable agricultural land is being covered with multistory courses and pounding the run-off of the Beins with buildings and roads. To sustain equilibrium in groundwater the construction of suitable weir regulators. withdrawal and recharge in urban stretches, forced ii. By constructing seepage tanks on the banks of recharging of the rainwater collected through rooftops Beins in suitable sandy formations along their of buildings is the only option left as surface means of courses. It is important that detailed hydro-geological groundwater recharging is not possible. Considering the studies should precede taking up of recharge works present situation, the state government has ordered a across Beins. new building plan, according to which it is necessary for the owners having area more than 200 m2 to Promoting recharge through paddy fields: As per construct an adequate depth percolation pit of 30 to 45 the experiments carried out by the department of soils cm diameter (The Tribune, Mar. 15, 2005). at PAU, 2/3rd of the irrigation water applied in case of rice joins the groundwater and adds to the groundwater Managing saline water aquifers: As mentioned in recharge. During monsoon season, by increasing the previous sections that native groundwater of the 6  J. Indian Water Resour. Soc. Vol. 28 No. 3, July, 2008 southwestern Punjab is saline/ brackish and its quality aquifers, is to recharge these with fresh/canal water, deteriorates with depth. Earlier, naturally occurring when fresh water supplies are available, and brackish water aquifers were considered waste. But subsequently pump reasonable quality water from these now, it is believed that these aquifers would be a good aquifers through skimming wells, when needed. Quality source of water for sustaining agriculture in the 21st of the recovered water depends upon the groundwater century, if properly managed (Vashisht and Shakya, velocity in the aquifer and the time gap after which the 2005). Efficient drainage system is the key for achieving groundwater is pumped. Feasibility study of this success while irrigating with brackish water. For approach was conducted by Vashisht (2004) in Golewala maintaining low salt and alkalinity level in the root zone watershed (dist. Faridkot, Punjab) and got encouraging without compromising with crop yield, following results. management practices are suggested: CONCLUSIONS Use of gypsum: Application of gypsum is recommended when RSC of irrigation water exceed In this millennium, the fully developed groundwater 2.4 me/lit. The quantity of gypsum for every additional resources in Punjab will continue to be utilized for one me/lit of RSC works out to 86 kg per 1000 m3 of precious water, to enhance the agriculture production, water. Usually 1.5 quintals gypsum of agriculture grade to meet stipulated food demand and ensure food security. is recommended after every 4 irrigations to neutralize In order to correct the imbalance in water budget and the adverse effect of 1 me RSC/lit. An efficient way to restore sustainability to farming system, there is for dissolving the gypsum in the irrigation water is immediate need to revert, at least partially, to the constructing a gypsum bed (Singh et al., 1986) in the cropping systems. No doubt, the challenge before the watercourse. farming community, development workers and agricultural scientists is really difficult but the challenge Conjunctive use of poor and good quality water: must be met if we are really interested to sustain Blending of brackish groundwater with good quality agriculture in the granary state. The areas showing canal water is another possibility for reducing the salinity/ marked decline in water levels should practice artificial sodicity hazards of the problematic waters. The quality recharge. It is also essential to strengthen soil, water of such a blend can be evaluated if the chemical and groundwater institutions along with capacity building, composition of both good and brackish water is known. training and education in specific areas like artificial The resulting concentration can be calculated as follows: recharge, groundwater modeling, watershed management, quality monitoring, and aquifer remediation ECiw or RSC iw = ( EC bw or RSCbw × proportion of bw) on a continuous basis. Lastly, if immediate remedial measures are not taken to reverse the declining trend + ( EC cw or RSC cw × proportion of cw) of water table, it would be difficult to sustain even the Where the subscripts iw, bw, and cw refer to the existing food grain production in the state, thereby, irrigation water, brackish water and canal water, affecting the socio-economic condition of the farmers, respectively. Alternate/cyclic use of brackish specially the small and marginal farmers. groundwater and canal water is another technique to REFERENCES manage such soils and aquifers. As per research conducted by Shakya et al. (1995), crop production 1. Anonymous. 2008a. IndiaAgriStat.com. Govt. of through cyclic use of 2-canal water and 1-brackish India. groundwater is as good as irrigation with canal water 2. Anonymous. 2008b. Central Ground Water only. Board. Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of Green manuring: Mixing of the green manure and India. crop residue increases the water infiltration rate and 3. Aulakh, K. S. 2004. Resource conservation and CaCO3 solubility to some extent, hence this method sustainability under Punjab conditions. 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Water Resources building plan, Recharge pits must to store of Punjab: a critical concern for the future of rainwater. its agriculture. Bulletin, PAU, Ludhiana. VIRTUAL WATER People do not only consume water when they drink it or take shower. In 1933, Prof. John Anthony Allan strikingly demonstrated this by introducing the “Virtual Water” concept which measures how water is embedded in the production and trade of food and consumer products. ) Behind that morning cup of coffee are 140 litres of water used to grow, produce, package and ship the beans i.e. roughly the amount of water used by an average person daily in England for drinking and house hold needs. Cont. page 29 8