CHANDIGARH: The green fields of Punjab, which are known to produce a golden harvest year after year to cater to the country’s foodgrain needs, have a dark side — water scarcity.
Large areas in the state are staring at low water availability that has the potential of damaging the state’s agrarian livelihood in the coming years.
"Punjab, the land of five rivers, is staring at a dark future on the water front. The ground water level is fast depleting. Tubewells are being bored at between 300 and 400 feet. Every year, the level goes down by 10 feet. The situation is very alarming," farmer Kartar Singh of Bhogpur near Jalandhar told IANS.
This situation prevails in the majority of areas across Punjab. Recent studies and official reports have shown the ground water is depleting alarmingly with concerned farmers saying they have no immediate solutions in sight.
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