Water related stresses

• Goundwater resources are under great stress in Ludhiana and central belt of the state of Indian Punjab

• Paddy is considered to be the main culprit of dwindling groundwater regime in the state

Water usage for rice and wheat production

• On ET basis• Wheat: 0.87 million ha meter• Rice: 1.47 million ha meter• Total: 2.32 million ha meter• Available groundwater resources: 2+ million ha meter• On Water application basis• Wheat: 1.08 million ha meter• Rice: 4.54 million ha meter• Total: 5.54 million ha meter• Water usage per kg of production of wheat and rice• 3168 liters/kg: less than 20% by wheat and remaining by

rice

Area under rice and degradation of groundwater resources

Year Area under rice 000 ha

Fall in water table

(meters)

Rainfall (

1981 5 60.23

1991 225 1.61 75.46

2001 235 1.61 39.19