In 70 Days, Punjab Exceeds Water Usage of Nine Lakes, States CM Mann
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Synopsis
On April 12, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announced a zone-wise paddy cultivation initiative beginning June 1, aiming to preserve groundwater for future generations amidst the state's substantial water consumption during the paddy season.
Key Takeaways
- Zone-wise paddy cultivation starting June 1.
- Punjab contributes 45% of India's grain supply.
- Groundwater usage equates to nine Gobind Sagars.
- Increased paddy area from 20 lakh to 32 lakh hectares.
- Government efforts are improving groundwater levels.
Ludhiana, April 12 (NationPress) Emphasizing the government's dedication to conserving groundwater for future generations, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Saturday the initiation of zone-wise paddy cultivation starting June 1.
“The state has been categorized into three zones, with paddy cultivation commencing in these districts on June 1, June 5, and June 9,” said the Chief Minister during the Sarkar Kisaan Milni event here. He pointed out that Punjab serves as the food bowl of India, contributing a significant 45 percent to the national grain supply. Nevertheless, in just 70 days of the paddy season, Punjab extracts water equivalent to nine Gobind Sagars (lakes), which is an alarming volume.
“This excessive water extraction jeopardizes the water resources for future generations, which are essential for our survival,” he stated. He illustrated his point by mentioning that 4,000 litres of water is necessary to produce a single kilogram of rice, indicating a serious threat to the sustainability of future generations. Consequently, the state government is actively working to mitigate this issue.
He noted that the area under paddy cultivation has surged from 20 lakh hectares to 32 lakh hectares, leading to increased water requirements for irrigation. Mann highlighted that thanks to government initiatives, the groundwater levels have begun to recover, with a report from the Union government indicating a rise of one meter.
In a significant move, the Chief Minister revealed that paddy cultivation would start on June 1, divided into three zones. Specifically, the districts of Faridkot, Bathinda, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Sri Muktsar Sahib will commence on June 1, while Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, and Hoshiarpur will begin on June 5. The remaining districts, including Ludhiana, Moga, Jalandhar, Mansa, Malerkotla, Sangrur, Patiala, Barnala, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, and Kapurthala, will start on June 9.
The Chief Minister asserted that this approach will help alleviate the immediate power supply burden across all districts during the paddy season. Furthermore, it will prevent complications for farmers when selling their paddy harvest due to excessive moisture content in October.
