Punjab is reversing decades-long depletion of State’s groundwater table, says FM Cheema

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema of Punjab announced on August 6, 2026, that the state has made significant progress in reversing the long-standing decline in groundwater levels through initiatives such as canal revival, watercourse restoration, and groundwater recharge efforts. For the past 25-30 years, continuous extraction had led to a rapid drop in groundwater levels, forcing farmers to continually deepen their tubewells and increase their electricity consumption.

In response to this crisis, the current government has undertaken a massive mission to restore Punjab's canal network, laying and reviving 16,000 kilometers of watercourses and releasing around 39,049 cusecs of water into these canals. This has ensured that the water reaches the end of every farmer's field. As a result, groundwater levels have risen by 3-5 meters in several blocks across the state.

Cheema highlighted that by using mineral-rich canal water instead of relying heavily on groundwater extraction, crop yields for wheat and paddy have increased by 1-2 quintals per acre. This not only directly boosts the farmers' incomes but also reduces the strain on power consumption and conserves natural resources. Additionally, to strengthen groundwater recharge, municipal committees in various cities have made it mandatory to include rainwater recharge wells in the approval of new building site plans.

The state government has also approved numerous groundwater recharge schemes, with a total of 510 schemes implemented, including 192 pond-based and 246 canal-based schemes.