Punjab not included in Atal Bhujal Yojana, confirms Union minister

The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Patil, informed Parliament on Wednesday that Punjab has not been included in the Atal Bhujal Yojana, a key government scheme for managing groundwater. He made this statement while replying to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney.

The Atal Bhujal Yojana is a major central government programme meant to improve groundwater management and conservation. Under this scheme, several states such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat have received a total of ₹3,800 crore in financial support. However, Punjab has not been given any funds under this scheme so far.

MP Sahney expressed serious concern over the decision to exclude Punjab, especially since the state is facing a severe groundwater crisis. He said that 78% of the groundwater blocks in Punjab are classified as "over-exploited", meaning they are using more water than is being naturally replenished. In some regions of Punjab, the water table is falling by about one meter every year. This fast decline could lead to long-term damage to the state’s agriculture and drinking water supply.

Water crisis in Punjab is growing worse

Sahney further pointed out that Punjab’s water usage is far higher than its availability. The state has only 56 billion cubic meters (BCM) of usable water, while the demand stands at 66 BCM. In simple terms, Punjab is using much more water than it has. The state’s groundwater utilisation is currently at 164%, which means people are drawing more than one-and-a-half times the amount of groundwater that is naturally recharged.

According to experts, if the current rate of groundwater extraction continues, the water levels in Punjab could fall below 1,000 feet by the year 2039. This would make groundwater almost impossible to use for farming or drinking purposes. In addition to this, farmers in Punjab heavily depend on tube wells and borewells for irrigation, especially for crops like paddy, which need large amounts of water.

Despite these serious issues, the Union Minister did not give any explanation for why Punjab was excluded from the scheme. MP Sahney said it is unclear why a state with such a serious groundwater problem was left out while other states with similar or even less critical situations were included.

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He urged the government to treat Punjab equally and ensure that it gets financial and technical support under the Atal Bhujal Yojana. He said Punjab must be included in the scheme just like other states, so that proper steps can be taken to recharge and protect its groundwater resources.

The Atal Bhujal Yojana was launched in 2019 and is supported by the World Bank. It focuses on involving the community in managing groundwater resources, encouraging water-saving farming techniques, and improving data collection and planning. The scheme aims to bring long-term changes in water usage and conservation habits.

Punjab's exclusion has raised concerns not just among politicians but also among water experts and environmentalists. They fear that ignoring Punjab at this stage could worsen the already alarming water situation in the state. With over 70% of its rural population depending on farming, water is a lifeline for Punjab, and any delay in action could affect livelihoods, food security, and the overall economy of the region.

In conclusion, MP Sahney and other leaders are demanding urgent action from the central government to include Punjab in the Atal Bhujal Yojana. They believe that unless strong steps are taken now, the groundwater crisis could soon reach a point of no return.