REPORT ON GROUNDWATER CONDITION IN

AMRITSAR AND BARNALA

By: -

Ravi Bang
(Legal Intern)

Habitat for Humanity Trust

1| Page
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sr. No. Topic Page No.

1 INTRODUCTION 3

2 BRIEF OVERVIEW OF DISTRICTS 4

3 GROUNDWATER DEPELTION IN AMRITSAR 5

AND BARNALA: Reasons (with Analysis),
Impacts and Recommendation

4 GROUND WATER POLLUTION (causes, 9

effects, recommendations)

5 GROUNDWATER ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE 12

6 LEGAL RPOVISIONS 14

7 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES 15

8 CONCLUSION 17

2| Page
 I. INTRODUCTION

“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water” – Benjamin Franklin, a famous quote
which make us acquainted with the worth of water in our life (especially ground water).
Groundwater is basically aquifer below the surface of earth and it is one of the important
natural resources. Groundwater makes up nearly 30% of all the world’s freshwater; only
0.2% is found in lakes, streams or rivers and 70% is bound up in snow and ice on mountains
and in the polar regions1, by this we can accordingly infer that groundwater is one of the
purest forms of water which is naturally available. In addition to this, groundwater has its
own benefits like: -
1. It is safe to drink (as the probability of it getting infected is very less).
2. There is no requirement of constructing artificial reservoirs, dams in order to store it.
3. During summers, there are several regions across globe which witness dramatic rise in
the temperature, like African region, due to which it leads to drying up of rivers,
ponds, lakes etc…, but with the presence of groundwater, it accordingly supports the
rivers during these hard times by preventing its drying.
4. Groundwater is accessible to rural parts of country, as these parts do not get facilities
like that of urban parts of country (like water taps, showers, pumps).

In this paper, various areas (& domains) of groundwater (from here on GW) would be
covered like GW level depletion, pollution (& it contributing factors as well as its
consequences), legal provisions associated with GW, how it is affecting people etc.… in
relation with the cities Amritsar and Barnala (in the state of Punjab).

Punjab is known for its mass agricultural production. And perennial rivers (constant stream
throughout the year) Beas, Sutlej, Ravi and ephemeral river like Ghaggar drain the state. This
provides us with the evidence that Punjab has a rich source of irrigation and acts a catalyst
factor for increasing agricultural production and mainly paddy crops (which needs a
significant amount of water to grow properly). The soils of Punjab are basically alluvium
(deposits by river).

Amritsar is a district located in northern part of Punjab. The population of the district
according to census 2011 is 24,90,656. 2 Amritsar district falls between the rivers Ravi and
Beas. Whereas Barnala is a district in the state of Punjab. The percentage of rural and urban
population to total population is 72.71% and 27.29 % respectively 3, by this we can infer that
majority of the population of Barnala resides in rural areas. In Punjab, a shift from
Sugarcane-Maize-Wheat cropping pattern to Wheat-Rice cropping has taken place, so the
present cropping pattern requires much water (as compared to previous one) for cultivation, it
has thus lead to increase usage of groundwater resources and thus Punjab is witnessing
decline in the groundwater percentage. And the same applies to the city of Amritsar and
Barnala.

1
Why is groundwater important?, UK Groundwater Forum, http://www.groundwateruk.org/Why-is-Groundwater-
Important.aspx. (last visited Nov. 5 2021, 16:28 PM)
2
District Census Handbook- Amritsar, Directorate of Census Operations, Punjab, 35 (2011).
3
Report on Aquifer Mapping and Management Plan- Barnala District, Punjab, 1, (Central Ground Water Board-Government
of India, 2017)

3| Page
By reading the above mentioned facts and figures, we get a glimpse of how groundwater is
important, and the geographical as well as hydrological feature of the state. Now we can
delve into a deeper understanding as well analysing the GW situation in Amritsar and
Barnala.

II. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF DISTRICTS

A. BARNALA DISTRICT : -

Barnala is a district in the state of Punjab, it is famously known as the ‘Rice Bowl’ of Punjab
because it is known for its paddy cultivation. GW’s quality is good, as per research carried
out by CGWB (Central Ground Water Board)’s Aquifer Mapping Programme which was
carried out in Punjab, the GW in Barnala district is alkaline in nature and the physical as well
as chemical parameters (during the test) were below the permissible limit, therefore it is
fit/potable for both drinking as well as irrigation purposes. The GW is easily accessible by the
people.
Agriculture is the main source of economy. The land utilization pattern shows that net area
sown is 780 sq.km while area under forest cover and land put to non-agricultural uses are 370
and 140 sq.km respectively. Total cropped area of the district is 1400 sq.km. Rice and maize
constitute the main Kharif crops whereas wheat is the main Rabi crop. 4 But there is no well-
defined drainage in Barnal, except some local ones, having a good drainage system is
important as it helps to ensure that the soil is properly aerated, it helps to get rid of surplus
water (and prevents the instances of water-logging) etc…

B. AMRITSAR DISTRICT : -

Amritsar district is between Ravi River and Beas River (both being perennial rivers), which
means that there is sufficient water flow for irrigation purposes. The Geographical area of
the District is 2.64 Lac ha out of which 2.17 lac ha is cultivated area. and 97% of the
cropped area is irrigated. District comprises 5 Tehsil 9 blocks and 776 villages. According to
2010-11 Census, district has 70705 farming families. 5 As from the mentioned statistics it can
be effectively derived (or inferred) that agriculture and related activities are the main
occupation in the district of Amritsar. As there is a continuous flow of water observed (by the
perennial rivers), Amritsar also comprises of alluvium deposits belonging to vast Indus
Alluvial Plains.

Chemical quality of Ground Water of shallow aquifer, according to the parameters, is within
the permissible limits for drinking purposes. These parameters are set by Bureau of Indian
Standards 1991. Electrical Conductivity, Nitrate, Chloride, Fluoride are some of the
4
Report on Aquifer Mapping and Management Plan- Barnala District, Punjab, 2, (Central Ground Water Board-Government
of India, 2017)

5
Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Punjab, Amritsar (Accessed on Nov. 6 2021, 13:14 PM),
https://amritsar.nic.in/agriculture/.

4| Page
important parameters for evaluating the suitability of GW. Depth to water level in the district
ranges from 11.61 to 24.30 m bgl during pre-monsoon period and between 12.26 to 24.04 m
bgl during post monsoon period.6 By these figures we can derive that the depth to the water
level doesn’t change much if compared with Pre-Monsoon to that of Post-Monsoon period.

But the availability of GW in Amritsar is continuously decreasing because of the

overexploitation of the available GW resource, and Amritsar is accordingly put under the
category of ‘Over Exploited’.

(Source:- Ground Water Information Booklet, Amritsar District, Punjab. Pg No.: - 7 )

III. GROUNDWATER DEPELTION IN AMRITSAR AND BARNALA: Reasons

(with Analysis), Impacts and Recommendation

Groundwater, as discussed above, is an important as well of pure resource of water with

multiple use like it is potable for drinking, irrigation purposes etc. But Punjab (especially
districts like Amritsar, Barnala, Bhatinda etc.…) as a state is coming into news these days
because of the rapid depletion in the GW and lackadaisical approach by the relevant state
authorities towards the problem and providing solutions (& relief) to the same.

The State of the World Report, 1998, published by the Washington-based Worldwatch
Institute, says the gap between water use and sustainable yield of the aquifer is so high that
the aquifer under Punjab could be depleted by the year 2025.7

6
Ground Water Information Booklet, Amritsar District, Punjab, 6, (CGWB (Central Ground Water Board)).
7
Indira Khurana and Rajikishore Khaware, Parched Punjab,, Down To Earth, Oct. 15 1999,
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/parched-punjab-20535.

5| Page
A study was conducted by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), in which the quantum of
depletion of GW level in the districts of Punjab was carried out during the period of 1998-
2018. And it found that the groundwater level has declined by over a meter every year in 18
of the 22 districts.8 And in this particular study it was observed that Amritsar and Barnala
districts, among other districts, were qualified under the category of ‘Over-Exploited’ district
(in terms of their extraction of GW). The worst-affected districts are Sangrur, Barnala and
Patiala where the annual groundwater level fell by 106.5cm, 103.3, 100.2cm (an annual fall
of 1 metre), respectively.9
One of the reasons cited, in the study conducted by PAU, is the shift from canal irrigation to
Tube well irrigation which led to depletion of GW resources. In addition to this, there are
several other reasons for the depletion of GW level in these districts of Punjab, those are as
follows: -

1. There are other sources of irrigation like canals etc.… but people in the districts of
Punjab prefer using GW as a prime resource for carrying out their production process.
Reason behind this is the easy availability of this resource, there is no need for a
special kind of machinery which needs to be established for facilitation of usage of
GW.
According to the most recent government report on Punjab's groundwater resources
notes that groundwater extraction has increased from 149% (of naturally available
recharge) in 2013 to 165% in 2018, and the state has maximum percentage of wells
showing groundwater depletion among all states in India.10
Accordingly we can infer that the consumption and utilization of GW is breaching the
permissible limit and thus it is leading to drastic depletion in the GW level. Green
Revolution can also be considered as a catalyst factor, as it promoted agricultural
production and subsequently due to surging demand of food crops, it lead to building
up of pressure on the water resources of that particular regions. And in the case of
Punjab, farmers were mainly reliant on the usage of GW, so it put pressure on GW
and led to depletion of the same.

2. Extensive cultivation of Rice Crops is also considered one of the important elements
which affected the GW level in the districts of Punjab. "The current pattern of farming
includes a rotation of wheat and rice. This has led to heavy use of groundwater,
especially in the central districts," says V Beri of PAU (Punjab Agriculture
University)11. Paddy experts are also of the opinion that the region is wrong for the
production of these particular crops, type of soil is also one of the important factors
for having a good yield (also being economically viable)- in the case of districts of
Punjab, they have very little of heavy clayey soil which is essential for rice

8
Mohit Khanna, Punjab Groundwater level dips 1m every year: Study, Hindustan Times, Jul. 30 2021, 05:18
PM, https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-groundwater-level-dips-1m-every-year-
study-101627645511290.html.
9
Mohit Khanna, Punjab Groundwater level dips 1m every year: Study, Hindustan Times, Jul. 30 2021, 05:18
PM, https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-groundwater-level-dips-1m-every-year-
study-101627645511290.html.
10
Balsher Singh Sidhu, Groundwater Depletion in Punjab: Time for a major policy overhaul, CGIAR Water,
Land and Ecosystems, https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2020/06/04/groundwater-depletion-punjab-time-major-policy-
overhaul. (last visited Nov. 6th 2021, 15:50 PM).
11
Bidisha Kumar, Punjab’s Depleting groundwater stagnates agriculture growth, Down To Earth, 31st July
2007, https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/punjabs-depleting-groundwater-stagnates-agricultural-growth-
6267.

6| Page
 cultivation. Because of which the amount of water required increases to a higher
extent, which inevitably leads to drastic depletion of GW.

3. Subsiding Power is also one of the reason which led to depletion of GW.
In Punjab, power for agriculture was totally free from 1997 to 2002 and from 2005
onwards. The power subsidy for agriculture has amounted to Rs. 4778 crores in 2013–
2014. Out of the subsidy loss, rice cultivation alone accounts for Rs. 1440 crores (Rs.
14.4 billion) annually.12 As free electricity were provided, this led to increase in tube
wells and irrational use of water was witnessed post this step. The density of tube well
was found more in the districts of Barnala, Amritsar etc… The shift in the cultivation to
more rice based crops lead to more utilisation of water and as the electricity was
subsidised to such an extent, that more extraction of water from the tube wells were
witnessed. And the end result was observed in the depletion of GW levels.

4. In addition to the above points mentioned (as some of the major reasons for GW
Depletion in Amritsar and Barnala district), there are several other important pointers
as well. Like, according to the studies and surveys conducted, The upper layer of GW
in Punjab is exhausted and farmers have shifted to using High-Horsepower
submersible pumps in order to extract GW (replacing Centrifugal Pump in the state). 13

III.I. IMPACTS OF GROUNDWATER DEPLETION

As we discussed that Groundwater is a resource which is easily accessible and affordable by

farmers across India and the consumption of groundwater in India is the largest in the world.
But due to overexploitation (mainly in Amritsar and Barnala) has led to depletion in the GW
levels and has caused distress amongst people (especially farmers) and the yields
accordingly. Several impacts witnessed (and can be witnessed in the upcoming future) are
discussed: -

a. A study was conducted regarding the effects of GW depletion and following was
observed by thorough analysis, that with the current depletion trends, cropping
intensity may decrease by 20% nationwide and by 68% in GW-depleted regions. It
was also of the opinion that groundwater and canal irrigation are non-substitutable
and that additional adaptation strategies will be necessary to maintain current levels of
production in the face of groundwater depletion. 14 By this we can infer that GW’s
depletion will not only affect farmers but also the production quantity of crops. And

12
Kaur, R.; Sharma, M. Agricultural subsidies in India: Case study of electricity subsidy in Punjab State—An analysis. Int.
J. Sci. Res. Publ.2012, 2 10,Available at: http://www.ijsrp.org/researchpaper-1012/ijsrp-p1085.pdf (accessed November
2021).

13
Bidisha Kumar, Punjab’s Depleting groundwater stagnates agriculture growth, Down To Earth, 31st July 2007,
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/punjabs-depleting-groundwater-stagnates-agricultural-growth-6267.
14
Meha Jain & Ors Authors, Groundwater depletion will reduce cropping intensity in India (Vol. 7 Issue 9), Science
Advances, Feb. 24th 2021, https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abd2849.

7| Page
 in this case, Punjab (being the highest producer of crops), it will significantly impact
the country.
b. Reduction in the GW level necessitates deepening the borewells (because as the level
goes down, in order to extract groundwater we need to dug down) and this process is
economically cumbersome for small and marginal farmers who do not have enough
financial backing to get adopted with the change in the level of GW. Also, various
technologies needs to get acquired like High-Horsepower tube wells, suction pumps
etc… so, these changes can only be adopted by farmers who are rich. This inevitably
leads to widening of gap between poor and rich farmers. And this will inevitably lead
to reduction in the yields.

c. GW’s level depletion does affect the production cost, quantity produced but seasonal
aspect also needs to be taken into consideration. During the monsoon season, water
availability is adequate for carrying out proper production, but during summer season
and dry winters availability of water is very less. And during this time, groundwater
acts as an important resource for carrying out irrigation and as the levels of the same
are depleting it will result in 2 things: -

1. Poor and marginal farmers will not be able to afford the increase cost of extraction of
GW and thus only small percentage of farmers would be able to produce crops. It will
ultimately lead to reduce agricultural production.
2. And the production cost would increase, therefore the price of end-product would
automatically increase, thus making the end consumer to pay more for the same
quantity.

d. Ground water depletion also results in the deterioration of the quality of the water.
Coastal aquifers tend to have wedgeshaped zones of saltwater underlying the potable
freshwater. Under natural conditions the boundary between the freshwater and
saltwater tends to be relatively stable, but pumping can cause saltwater to migrate
inland, resulting in saltwater contamination of the water supply.15

III.II. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. As the Groundwater consumption in Punjab is primarily driven by Agricultural
demand, formulation of policies needs concrete and well-planned steps which will be
beneficial on both the parts i.e., will not hamper the production (& incomes of the
farmers) as well as help in reducing the overexploitation of GW. Not only farmers are
benefitting by availing the GW resource, end-consumer (or buyer) also is getting
benefitted (as the farmers get irrigation facility easily through GW, so the production
cost gets reduced and the price of the end-product is less, so the buyer is also at an
advantageous position). By this it can be easily inferred that many stakeholders are
involved, so if any decision has to be made, involvement of all stakeholders (having
significant interest and the decision affects them) should take place and should
accordingly arrive at a decision which will be of interest to the party privy in this.

15
Ground water depletion across the Nation, USGS science for a changing world, Nov. 2003, https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-
103-03/.

8| Page
 2. Another important factor is the Punjab government’s lackadaisical behavior towards
the depletion of GW in their state. Despite several requests, recommendations made
by the committee of experts Punjab’s government significantly failed to acknowledge
the concerns raised and the end result witnessed is the levelling down of the GW
(which will have impact on the quantity of production in the near future). Punjab
government did not acknowledge the reckless use of Groundwater from past 4
decades. So, it is imperative on the part of state government to address the raised
concerns and formulate policies accordingly. Though it is not the case that Punjab’s
government did not took initiatives, but the steps taken were late (considering that it
was analyzed and statistically predicted that future consequences can be detrimental),
state government formulated policies like Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Act, 2009,
“Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao” (farmers were provided monetary compensation if
they reduced agricultural power consumption) etc.….

3. Government should regulate the misuse of ground water. They can do this by
enforcing Model Bill to Regulate and Control the Development and Management of
Ground Water. This act can be called Ground Water Regulation and Control of
Development and Management) Act, 2005. Main objective of this act is to regulate ,
manage as well as control the use of GW.

4. If we consider the prime reason for the wide acceptability of GW is that it is easily
accessible and does not require much construction of establishments for its extraction.
In addition to this, it is available across many regions (mainly dry regions, where
availability of water is scarce), so because of these factors it is exploited. Here,
government can intervene and make legislations, initiate several programmes that
help provide with better irrigation facilities to the farmers so that their reliance on
extraction of water from GW reduces and creates a win-win situation for all.

5. Water conservation practices and effective irrigation practices (like micro irrigation,
bed planting crop diversification), and how it is supposed to be done, should be
disseminated amongst people who lack awareness about the same. These small steps
will help to save major amount of water in the due course and will not put pressure
upon the single source (in this case GroundWater).

IV. GROUND WATER POLLUTION (causes, effects, recommendations)

Groundwater is one of the important sources of Water on Earth. But due to current shift in the
trends due to urbanization, globalization, increase in agriculture (Green Revolution here acted
as a catalyst factor) are some of the reasons which led to overexploitation as well as over
utilization of GW in Punjab. This has subsequently contributed to deterioration in the quality
of GW.
Till December 2017, as many as 2,139 habitations or villages in the state were reported to the
integrated management information system of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation
as having more than the permissible levels of heavy metals. 16 By this we can conclude that
16
Vijay Mohan, State Groundwater most polluted, Feb. 07, 2018 01:31 AM,
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/state-groundwater-most-contaminated-539909.

9| Page
Punjab is facing an alarming situation due to heavy metal contents found in the GW and
deteriorating the quality of GW.

IV.I. GROUND WATER POLLUTION (& effects) IN BARNALA

DISTRICT

As we know that Groundwater in Barnala district occurs in alluvial formations (deposits from
river flow) comprising fine to coarse sands which forms the potential aquifers.
Groundwater’s pollution is significantly observed in the district of Barnala, which can have
detrimental effects on the health of the people, can affect the daily agricultural practices, etc
…

Some of the major points related to groundwater pollution in Barnala district are mentioned
below: -

1. We cannot consider water (in whichever form it may be) to be pure without consisting
several chemical elements. Considering the fact that some chemical elements are
present in the water, there are permissible limits set accordingly. If the presence of
these chemical elements exceeds the prescribes limits set, the water thus becomes
unfit for drinking purposes.
In the case of Barnala district’s GW, according to the studies conducted by CGWB,
High Flouride (F) (more than the permissible limit of 1.5mg/l) as well as Nitrate’s
(within permissible limit of 45mg/l) content were found, which rendered the GW unfit
or not potable for drinking purposes17. This makes the groundwater of Barnala
polluted, which cannot be consumed by people in the daily course of life (despite
considering the fact that GW is one of the purest forms of water present).

2. Injudiciously extraction of GW, poor recharging, excessive usage of fertilizers is

some of the reason for the deterioration in the quality and subsequently polluting the
GW in Barnala district. The mentioned activities led to salination of the water.
A random study of GW at Barnala district was conducted by the Department of
Environment and Vocational Studies, Panjab University 18. And the values of TDS,
pH, EC, Potassium were found above the permissible limits, the study’s conclusion
also asserted that the quality of GW in Barnala would deteriorate in the future
considering the samples exceeded the permissible limits set forth by WHO (World
Health Organisation).

3. One important aspect regarding Uranium presence in the GW of Barnala district and
its subsequent health hazard also needs to be taken into consideration. If Uranium is
ingested in one’s body, it results in radiological as well as chemical effects and its
main target are is lungs and kidney. And major source for transporting Uranium into

17
CGWB (Central Ground Water Board), Groundwater Information Booklet, Barnala District, Punjab, Point 6.0
page 16. (2013).
18
Venu and Madhuri.S.Rishi, Groundwater Quality Assessment and its Suitability for Drinking Purpose: A case
study of Barnala Block, District Sangrur, Punjab, India, 48. (2010).

10| Page
 human body is water, 85% of Uranium ingest in human body is done through
consumption of water.19
Groundwater samples from Barnala District were collected and it was found that
Uranium content varies from 62.91ppb 290.60 ppb with an average value of 127.90
ppb for 110 habitations covered under this survey. The safe limit of uranium in
groundwater is fixed to be 60 ppb by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in
India.20 By the results we can easily infer that the presence of the Uranium content in
the GW of Barnala is excess than the permissible limit. As Uranium is a radioactive
material, it can have detrimental impacts on the health of people consuming the GW,
like it can affect their lungs, kidneys, increased risk of cancer is also present.

IV.II. GROUNDWATER POLLUTION (& effects) IN AMRITSAR

Various studies, reports have indicated that Amritsar’s groundwater is most polluted and it is
not safe for consumption as well as agricultural purposes. High contents of metals (beyond
permissible limits) like Arsenic, iron, fluoride, etc… are found which make the water
polluted. There are various reasons like industrial pollution (discharging of industrial wastes
into waters hampers the quality of GW in Amritsar’s district), excessive usage of fertilizers is
also one of the reasons for polluting the GW of Amritsar.

1. The findings of a study evaluating the bacteriological quality of water supplied to

public locations by various sources of water in and around Amritsar, northern India,
are presented in this paper . The study looked at 1,317 drinking water samples
collected from various water sources in Amritsar between January 2013 and May
2014. According to the findings, as much as 42.9 percent of the samples were unsafe
for human consumption. In comparison to winter and summer, pollution was found to
be higher during the rainy seasons.

2. According to a report, prepared based upon data collected by Punjab Water Supply
and Sanitation Department, ground water situation in Amritsar is not potable. In this
particular report, study of presence of heavy metals in the GW of Amritsar was also
taken into consideration and the quality of the GW in Amritsar was also examined.
Conclusively, by analyzing the data as well as the samples collected, Amritsar was
found to be one of the most contaminated districts of Punjab due to presence of heavy
metals (exceeding beyond the permissible limits) and Arsenic in its GW.21

19
Cothern CR, Lappenbusch WL. Occurrence of uranium in drinking water. Health Physics, 1983;45: 89–99p.
20
Hardev Singh Virk, Uranium Content Anomalies in Groundwater of Barnala District of Malwa Belt of Punjab
(India) for the Assessment of Excess Cancer Risk, 22. (STM Journals, 2019)

21
Hardev Singh Virk, Groundwater Contamination due to Heavy Metals and other Pollutants in Amritsar District of
Punjab, 26. (STM Journals , December 2019)

11| Page
IV.III. RECOMMENDATIONS
By the studies and the findings, we can conclude that the GW situation in Punjab (and in our
focus areas Barnala and Amritsar district) is getting deteriorated. So we need to adapt several
strategies in order to prevent this from getting more worse and accordingly improving the
quality of GW (and reducing the pollution).
There are several factors like injudicious extraction of GW without any limits, less use of
canal-based irrigation in paddy fields, change in cropping pattern (water intensive crops and
planting them early) which led to pollution as well as depletion in GW.

1. Use of canal-based irrigation needs to be adopted, considering the minimal percentage

of population adopting this technique. By this, it will reduce the burden on GW and it
will prevent salination of GW, thus preventing deterioration in the quality of GW.

2. As witnessed from the findings, there is a higher quantity of uranium in the district of
Uranium (which can prove fatal to health of people), using ‘Coagulation’(process of a
liquid changing to solid or semi-solid state) using ferric sulphate or aluminium
sulphate at optimal pH and coagulant dosages can achieve 80–95% removal of
uranium.22 Other techniques for removing the harmful content of uranium from the
GW like Reverse Osmosis (RO) should also be adopted.

3. Government should formulate schemes, and encourage initiatives carried out by

private organizations, for preventing dischargement of waste (mainly industrial
waste), bringing in technologies to reduce the content of harmful metals (as observed
and concluded by various studies) within the permissible limits.

4. As mentioned above that use of fertilizers also pollutes GW of that particular area,
usage of chemical fertilizers should be discouraged and instead, usage of organic
fertilizers, manures should be encourage. This will create a win-win situation for both
the farmers as well as it will help in reducing the pollution of GW.

5. Arsenic Removal Filters (ARF) can also be installed to remove the Arsenic
compounds present in the groundwater and thus making it fit and potable for use. In
addition to this, maintenance of these filters should also be taken care of.

So, these are some of the steps which can be implemented (considering the deplorable
situation of GW in Punjab) to improve the quality of GW and by time will accordingly evade
off the health hazard’s hanging sword because of the polluted GW in the observed district as
well as Punjab state as a whole.

22
Hardev Singh Virk, Groundwater Contamination in Punjab due to Arsenic, Selenium and Uranium Heavy
Metals, 6.

12| Page
 V. GROUNDWATER ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE
Groundwater levels not only in India, but around the world are decreasing. Groundwaters or
Aquifers naturally replenish themselves, this process is known as GW Recharge. Our rate of
extraction/withdrawal of water from the GW is more than the rate of GW getting Naturally
replenished, by this groundwater is continuously getting depleted.

GW Artificial Recharge is the process in which the groundwater gets replenished, but this is
not done naturally instead through human controlled means which makes is artificial. So, this
process is known as GW Artificial Recharge. Significant amount of water can be stored in the
subsurface of the land, this acts as a ‘Water Bank’. There are various ways in which the GW
gets artificially levelled up in terms of its quantity of water, like through canals, infiltration
basins, sprinklers systems etc.

There are several advantages associated with this method of Artificial Recharge: -

1. No need for constructing large structures to store water like dams, artificial reservoirs
etc..
2. Minimal land is used for recharging the water.
3. During summer seasons, evaporation takes place which reduces the quantity of water.
But in this case, evaporation of water is prevented.

There are several disadvantages associated with this method of Artificial Recharge: -
1. In order to avoid blockage of injection wells and infiltration ponds, as well as
contamination of groundwater, ongoing maintenance and qualified personnel are
required.
2. Recovery of stored water requires wells and pumping (energy demand).
3. Undesirable chemical reactions can mobilize harmful substances.

In Punjab, under the Central Sector Scheme of Artificial Recharge to Ground Water
implemented during IX Plan, 21 projects were implemented in the districts of Jalandhar,
Kapurthala, Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Moga, Ropar and Fatehgarh Sahib.23
But the condition of GW is deplorable in Punjab, as the GW is overexploited. According to
reports, 33.85 billion Cubic Metre (BCM) is extracted against the total annual recharge of
22.8 BCM. This adds up to GW Over-exploitation by 59%.24

In Amritsar District, due to declining water levels (Groundwater) artificial recharge as well as
other water conservation techniques holds relevance and is feasible. According to studies and
master plans, 2666 km2 has been identified for artificial recharge. Types of rechargeable
structures suitable are Trenches and Injection Wells.25

23
Recharge of Groundwater in Punjab, Press Information Bureau (PIB), Sept. 8 2011 19:38,
https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=75857.
24
Sanjeev Verma, In Punjab, groundwater extraction is 59% more than the annual recharge, Jul. 31 2021,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/in-punjab-groundwater-extraction-is-59-more-than-annual-
recharge/articleshow/84907937.cms.
25
Ground Water Information Booklet, Amritsar District, Punjab, 12, (CGWB (Central Ground Water Board)).

13| Page
Considering the GW depletion levels in Barnala and Amritsar districts, it is imperative for
them to adopt the Artificial Recharge method in order to cope with the declining level of
GW.
This will make sure that the level of extraction of GW is equal to or less than the level of
replenishment of GW (naturally as well as artificially), this will create a balance as well as
stability in the subsurface.

VI. LEGAL PROVISIONS

A. As there are no district wise special laws relating to groundwater, but due to over-
exploitation of Groundwater in Punjab and the plunging water levels in the state led
to enaction of a legislation for the same, i.e., Punjab Preservation of Sub-soil Water
Act-2009, initially it was formulated in the form of an Ordinance in the year 2008,
later turned it into legislation in the year 2009.
The main clause of this act is that it aims at conserving groundwater by mandatorily
delaying the transplanting of paddy to beyond June 10, when the most severe phase of
evapotranspiration (transfer of water from land to the atmosphere through evaporation
from the soil and plant transpiration) is over.26

B. Another piece of legislation, not directly related to groundwater, in Punjab is –

“Punjab Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2020”. The following
points regarding this act are mentioned below27 : -

1. This Act concerns water resources management in the Indian state of Punjab.
2. The government of Punjab shall establish the Punjab Water Regulation and
Development Authority as a body corporate. The Authority shall have and maintain a
separate Fund to be called the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority
Fund. There shall also be an Advisory Committee on Water Resources.
3. The Government shall constitute the Punjab State Council for Water Management and
Development, which shall be the overarching body to consider and steer the policies
and programmes of the State to supply quality water to all persons at affordable costs
and prices and ensuring optimal judicious utilization of water resources of the State.
4. Other provisions of the Act concern appointment of enquiry officers, inspections and
investigations of the Authority and powers of the Authority and inspection officers in
this respect.

C. There is no Central law for Groundwater, but the concept of groundwater (its
preservation, maintenance, prevention of pollution) can be covered under the Central
Legislation called ‘The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974’. It
was enacted in the year 1974 with the objective for prevention and control of water
26
Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act 2009, Vajiram & Ravi, Nov. 17 2019,
https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/punjab-preservation-of-subsoil-water-act-
2009/5dd0aedc1d5def7ae0e23416/.
27
Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act 2020, (No.2 of 2020), UNEP LEAP, Feb. 04 2020,
https://leap.unep.org/countries/in/national-legislation/punjab-water-resources-management-and-regulation-
act-2020-no-2.

14| Page
 pollution, for the maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water in the
country.28 This act was last amended in the year 2003.
As per Section 2 (e) of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,
“pollution” means such contamination of water or such alteration of the physical,
chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge of any sewage or trade
effluent or of any other liquid, gaseous or solid substance into water (whether directly
or indirectly) as may, or is likely to, create a nuisance or render such water harmful or
injurious to public health or safety, or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural
or other legitimate uses, or to the life and health of animals or plants or of aquatic
organisms. In addition to this, Section 2 (j) of Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974 mentions in ‘Stream’, Inland Water will be included, so ground
water is a type of Inland water. Accordingly, by Section 2 (e) and (j) of Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, it can be considered that
Groundwater’s pollution issue can be addressed under the ambit of Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

D. Section 4 of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 discusses about
the Constitution of State Board. It states, according to Section 4 (1) of Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, State Pollution Control Board will
be constituted and can exercise power conferred on and perform the functions
assigned to that Board under this Act. According to this, Punjab Pollution Control
Board was constituted in the year 1975 to preserve the wholesomeness of water. 29
Also, the duty to implement the environmental laws (& their provisions) rests with
the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

As discussed in this report, there are several problems associated with GW like its depletion,
pollution etc. which needs to be taken into consideration and effective steps needs to be taken
by the authorities. Formulating legislation relating to GW pollution will create a deterrence in
the minds of people and people will exercise precaution over the activities which contribute
to the pollution of GW, imposing fines for activities that pollute the GW can also be an
effective step. Due to lack of legislation or rules and regulations, it creates a lackadaisical
attitude in the minds of people and they in turn do not pay heed to the problems of GW which
can have harsher impact in the future.

VII. GOVENRMENT INITIATIVES

In this chapter, we would be focusing on the steps taken by the state government of Punjab to
effectively deal with the problem of GW.
It is important to be noted that the term ‘water’ comes under the state list, so it is the primary
responsibility of the state government to look into the issues like water management,
conservation, preventing pollution, water harvesting.

28
Water Pollution, Central Pollution Control Board MoEFCC, Sep. 25 2019, https://cpcb.nic.in/water-pollution/.
29
Punjab Pollution Control Board; Introduction, Punjab Pollution Control Board Government of Punjab,
https://ppcb.punjab.gov.in/en.

15| Page
There are various initiatives taken by the government of Punjab regarding the issue of GW,
like: -

1. According to the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater – 2020

(prepared by Central Ground Water Board in consultation with various states, UT). In
Punjab, it recommends construction of 11 lakh rain water harvesting and artificial
structures to harness 1,200 million Cubic Metre (MCM) of monsoon rainfall. 30
2. Punjab has also taken up 4262 water conservation works and 35089 works of
renovation of ponds under MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act).31

3. Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (Watershed Development

Component) in Punjab, 1,988 water harvesting structures have also been created or
rejuvenated. 32

4. The state government has also constructed low dams to provide irrigation facilities
under Bharat Nigam Program, to help in augmenting groundwater resources of the
state and help reducing the groundwater decline. Rooftop rainwater harvesting has
also been made mandatory in all buildings above 200 square yards.

5. In addition to this, a special committee of Punjab assembly (under the chairmanship

of MLA Rana Gurjit Singh), main reason behind forming this committee was to
suggest ways and means to replenish GW level in the state, has also recommended
formulation of policy which helps maintain the groundwater level in the state
(extraction = replenishment/ recharge). It also suggested to carry out an audit of
demand and supply in all sectors, be it drinking water, use of water in agriculture and
industry.33

30
MASTER PLAN FOR ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE TO GROUNDWATER IN INDIA – 2020, 110, CGWB
Ministry of JalShakti Government of India. (October 2020).
31
Sanjeev Verma, In Punjab, groundwater extraction is 59% more than the annual recharge, Times of India,
Jul. 31 2021, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/in-punjab-groundwater-extraction-is-59-more-
than-annual-recharge/articleshow/84907937.cms.
32
Sanjeev Verma, In Punjab, groundwater extraction is 59% more than the annual recharge, Jul. 31 2021,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/in-punjab-groundwater-extraction-is-59-more-than-annual-
recharge/articleshow/84907937.cms.
33
PTI, Special committee recommends steps to check depletion of underground water table in Punjab, Sep. 14
2021, Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/special-committee-recommends-
steps-to-check-depletion-of-underground-water-table-in-punjab/articleshow/86208761.cms?from=mdr.

16| Page
 VIII. CONCLUSION
Reviewing all the data and evidence put forth in this paper, the following points of conclusion
become apparent: -

1. State government of Punjab needs to pay more attention to this uprising problem of
GW depletion and pollution (& its subsequent negative consequences). Due to
government’s earlier lackadaisical behaviour, the situation has become more worse in
the present phenomenon. Formulating legislations, rules & regulations related to
groundwater should be given priority.

2. Main reason for usage of GW is its easy availability and accessibility, in remote
regions as well as the regions in the outskirts of the state. Providing proper irrigation
facilities which can percolate down to every individual will help reduce dependence
on GW and thus it will accordingly reduce the depletion of the same.

3. High metallic contents like Uranium, Fluoride, Arsenic, Iron has been found in the
GW of Amritsar and Barnala as per the studies which were conducted. Thus, making
the GW unfit for drinking and agricultural purposes. Technologies which remove
these metals like RO (Reverse Osmosis) should be promoted to regain the quality of
deteriorated GW.

4. GW is over-exploited in both the districts. The quantity of water extracted (for all
purposes) is more than the quantity of water which is replenished or artificially
recharged. Thus, the phenomenon of GW Artificial Recharge needs to be promoted
and mass adoption is the need of the hour.

By analyzing the points and recommendations, as well as taking them into consideration, the
GW situation not only in both the districts but also the state of Punjab as a whole can witness
a significant improvement.

17| Page