What is causing Punjab's groundwater depletion?

Punjab's groundwater is depleting because annual withdrawals exceed the aquifers' natural recharge rate, driven by increased reliance on tube wells for irrigation and expanding cultivation.

Which districts in Punjab are most affected by falling water tables?

Pakpattan, Okara, and Sahiwal are among the most affected districts, experiencing significant annual declines in groundwater levels.

What are the proposed solutions for Punjab's groundwater crisis?

Proposed solutions include repurposing abandoned canals into recharge ponds and promoting farm-level groundwater recharge wells to replenish aquifers using excess surface water during floods.

Home / Environment / Punjab's Aquifers Drying: Crisis Looms

Punjab's Aquifers Drying: Crisis Looms

16 Feb

•

Summary

Groundwater withdrawals exceed recharge, lowering water tables across Punjab.
Some districts see over 1.5ft annual drop in water levels.
Farmers' increasing reliance on tube wells fuels the crisis.

Punjab's agricultural sector is experiencing alarming groundwater depletion, with annual withdrawals now exceeding the aquifers' natural recharge rate. This imbalance is causing water tables to steadily decline across the province.

Data from the Punjab Irrigation Department indicates significant drops in water levels in nearly all districts, with Pakpattan, Okara, and Sahiwal facing annual declines of over 1.5 feet. The strain is also evident volumetrically, with districts like Okara extracting groundwater equivalent to more than half of Mangla Dam's capacity.