People in Punjab would face punitive action for misusing groundwater. For, the Punjab Government has issued directives for the farmers of the State to use groundwater for irrigation purposes with utmost care and prudence.
Advisory has been issued not to irrigate the open fields in advance before the cultivation of crop. Besides, Deputy Commissioners have been asked to ensure the compliance and take punitive actions if any case of misuse of groundwater comes to their notice.
“Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is concerned about depleting groundwater table in the State. Pursing his directions, an advisory to the farmers of the State has been issued,” said Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Irrigation Sohan Singh Thandal.
He said that farmers have been asked to shun the traditional and irrelevant methods of irrigation. “In this regard, the use of groundwater to irrigate open fields, sans crops, has strictly been banned in the State. District administration would be held responsible for any reported case of misuse of groundwater,” he added.
Thandal said that the depletion of groundwater in the State has reached at alarming stage. He said that 100 blocks have already been demarked in dark zone, wherein the sub-soil water was not even fit for human consumption.
He said the State Govt time and again appealed the farmers to opt for cash crops like; pulses and vegetables, besides adopting subsidiary occupations like; fishery, dairy farming, poultry and emu farming to supplement their income.