THE FALLOUT: WATERLOGGING AND INCREASE IN SOIL SALINITY

CGWB, north western region experts say the state can control water level fluctuation by adopting the following strategies:

Punjab needs to restore depleting ground water levels in the northern and central districts and get rid of the waterlogging problem in south west districts. More than two lakh hectares of fertile land is waterlogged in Punjab.

RENDERING LAND INFERTILE

Waterlogging, apart from leading to land salinity, results in depletion of oxygen and amplification of carbon dioxide in the root zone of crops, making cultivation an unyielding and tough task, rendering huge masses of land completely uncultivable, thereby making land-owning farmers practically landless.

WHY ARE PATCHES OF LAND WATERLOGGED IN THE STATE?

Water collects in areas which lack natural drainage in flat topography coupled with monsoon inundation on areas of depressions relative to surrounding areas , shift in cropping pattern, inadequate surface and subsurface drainage, poor water management practices, excess canal water irrigation, harnessing poor quality groundwater for irrigation and seepage from irrigation network. Another problem is the relative topography of the Rajasthan canal vis-a-vis the adjoining areas resulting in rise of groundwater level from 43m approximately to less than one metre in severely waterlogged areas.

SOLUTIONS TO CHECK WATERLOGGING

Shifting to crops with low water requirements and opting for drip irrigation system for the same.

Areas with saline water can be trapped for salt water aquaculture for fisheries etc.

Checking seepage from irrigation networks.

Surface and sub-surface drainage

Control of flooding.

BEHAVIOUR OF GROUNDWATER IN JUNE 2018

Very shallow water levels of 0-2 m (causing waterlogging) occur in more than 4% of wells and cover less than 1% area of the state in south western parts in Muktsar, Faridkot and Fazilka districts. Shallow water levels of 2-5 m have been observed in 15% of the wells and more than 10% of the total area that lies in south western parts of Muktsar, Fazilka, Faridkot, and in northern parts of Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts and few isolated patches in north eastern parts. The area in south western parts is mainly canal command and use canal water for their needs.