Octa Journal of Environmental Research July – Sept., 2014 International Peer-Reviewed Journal ISSN 2321 3655 Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol. 2(3): 221-226 Available online http://www.sciencebeingjournal.com Research Article

GROUNDWATER LEVEL ANALYSES OF , : A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH

a a b a b c a a Gopal Krishan *, M.S. Rao , R.S. Loyal , A.K. Lohani , N.K. Tuli , K.S. Takshi , C.P. Kumar , P. Semwal and Sandeep Kumar a a. National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee- 247667 (Uttarakhand), India bDepartment of Geology, Panjab University, cIrrigation Department, Punjab, Chandigarh *Corresponding author’s Email: [email protected] Received : 22 nd July 2014 Revised : 22 nd Sept. 2014 Accepted : 30 Sept. 2014

Abstract : Groundwater is considered to be the most vital for the livestock population. In Punjab, which is also the food basket of India, the groundwater level is declining at a rapid rate due to increase in the number of tube wells in the recent years and hence the groundwater abstraction has increased. In a recent study conducted for monitoring the groundwater level in Punjab, the water level data was monitored for the period 2006-2013 in , & Kapurthala districts of Bist-; Faridkot, Firozepur, , Bhatinda & districts of region and , Gurdaspur & Tarn Taran districts of region of Punjab. The groundwater level data has shown that the maximum decline to the tune of 9.75 m was found in Patiala, followed by 8.57 m in Bhatinda and least decline of 3.13 m was found in Jalandhar during the period 2006-2013. The areas showing marked decline in water levels should practice artificial recharge. It is also essential to strengthen soil, water and groundwater institutions along with capacity building, training and education in specific areas like artificial recharge, groundwater modelling, watershed management, quality monitoring, and aquifer remediation on a continuous basis. Lastly, if immediate remedial measures are not taken to reverse the declining trend of water table, it would be difficult to sustain even the existing food grain production in the state, thereby, affecting the socio-economic condition of the farmers, specially the small and marginal farmers. Keywords : Analysis; groundwater level; Punjab; quantitative approach Postal Address : National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee-247667, Uttarakhand, India .

INTRODUCTION largest producer of wheat in India. Majhi is the Punjab literally meaning the Land of Five main dialect of Punjab. The rainfall deficiency in the state is made up by canals taken out from the Rivers (‘punj’ means five and ‘ab’ means rivers) that refers to the rivers: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, perennial rivers Beas, Satluj and Ravi. It is this Satluj and Beas. All are tributaries of the Indus efficient canal system which has enabled this River. The Indian part of Punjab is divided into area to be called as the granary of the country and nucleus of the Green Revolution. Although four natural regions: Malwa (region south of river Satluj), Bist Doab or simply (region there has been some decline in the importance of between the rivers Satluj and Beas), Majha canal irrigation due to popularity of tube-wells (region west of river Beas) and Powadh (region and pumping sets but canals still irrigate over 39% in Punjab. in Rupnagar and Ambala district) that falls between the rivers Satluj and Ghaggar (Figure Agriculture is the largest industry in Punjab; it 1). The people living in Malwa, Doaba, Majha is the largest provider of wheat to India. Indian and Powadh are known as Malwai, Doabi, Majhai Punjab led the country’s Green Revolution of the and Pawadhi. Of these, the Doaba region is the 1960s and earned for itself the distinction of

Octa Journal of Environmental Research Krishan et al. 2014; Groundwater level Analyses of Punjab, India: A quantitative approach becoming ‘Granary of India’ or ‘India’s bread- basket’. The cropping pattern also got changed With the continuous rotation of wheat & paddy with the increasing facilities in agriculture field cropping pattern, the soil and water of Punjab including irrigation (Table-1). Total cropped area have been degraded and depleted. Intensive use and cropping intensity has increased during last of groundwater has resulted 93 out of 138 blocks 4 decades and as a result the rice cultivation has to dark category. The present study is increased from 6.87 % in 1970-71 to 35.85 % in undertaken in Punjab keeping in mind a sharp 2011-12 (Table 1). decline in water level due to high rate of The percent gross irrigated area to gross population growth and increasing pressure for cropped area has also increased by 0.03% in last agriculture and drinking water demand. The few years (Table 2). With the increase in number extensive water use in Punjab is resulting in of water resources there is still annual water falling groundwater levels. deficit of 1.28 M ha-m (Table 3). As evident from Table 2. Gross cropped and irrigated area in the table 4, it has been found during last few Punjab (‘000 ha.) years that the land put to non-agricultural use Year Gross Irrigated % of gross has increased by 5% in the last few years. Table cropped area area irrigated 5 shows that the irrigation from groundwater has area to gross increased while the irrigation from canals has cropped decreased during last 5 years. area Table 1. Shift in cropping pattern in Punjab 2007 -08 7870 7689.3 97.7 (‘000ha.) 2008 -09 7912 7723.6 97.6 1970 - 1980 - 1990 - 1999 - 2000 - 2011 - 2009 -10 7876 7714.2 97.9 Crop 71 81 91 00 01 12 2010 -11 7882 7723.8 98.0 390 1183 2015 2604 2612 2826 Rice Source: Statistical Abstract, Punjab (6.9) (17.5) (26.9) (33.2) (32.9) (35.9) 555 304 183 163 164 133 Maize Table 3. Status of Water Resources of Punjab (9.8) (4.5) (2.4) (2.1) (2.1) (1.7) Bajra & 212 70 12 5 6 2.5 Annual canal water available at H/w 1.79 M ha -m Jowar (3.7) (1.0) (0.2) (0.1) (0.1) (0.03) Ground 174 83 11 5 4 2.0 Annual canal water available at outlets 1.45 M ha -m nut (3.1 (7.2) (0.2) (0.1) (0.1) Cotton 212 502 637 381 358 482.8 Annual canal water available 2.03 ha -m (Amer.) (3.7) (7.4) (8.5) (4.9) (4.5) (6.3) Total annual available water resource 3.48 M ha -m 15 17 18 145 19 Sesame 5 Annual water demand 4.76 M ha -m (0.3) (0.3) (0.2) (1.9) (0.2) Annual water deficit 1.28 M ha -m Sugar 128 71 101 108 121 70 cane (2.3) (1.1) (1.4) (1.4) (1.5) (0.9) Source: Jain A K, Department of Soil & water Engineering, Kharif 33 58 73 51 42 PAU, Ludhiana - Pulses (0.6) (0.9) (1.0) (0.7) (0.5) Table 4. Land use pattern in Punjab (‘000 ha.) 2299 2812 3273 3388 3408 3510 Wheat (40.5) (41.6) (43.6) (43.2) (43.0) (44.5) Area/Period 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 57 65 37 51 32 11.7 08 09 10 11 Barley (1) (1.0) (0.5) (0.7) (0.4) (0.2) Geographical area 5036 5036 5036 5036 358 258 60 6 8 2.2 Gram Forests 287 296 295 294 (6.3) (3.8) (0.8) (0.1) (0.1) (0.03) Rapeseed 103 136 69 56 55 Barren and un 24 23 25 24 - & Mustard (1.2) (2.0) (1.0) (0.7) (0.7) cultivable land 17 40 23 76.0 64 64 Potato Land put to non – 483 494 503 508 (0.3) (0.6) (0.3) (1) (0.8) (0.8) agriculture use Other 23 24 31 47 46 - Vegetable (0.4) (0.4) (0.4) (0.6) (0.6) Cultivable waste 3 2 2 4 50 29 69 30 34 Permanent 3 4 4 4 Fruits 71.5 (0.9) (0.4) (0.9) (0.4) (0.4) pastures & other Net Sown 4053 4191 4218 4243 4264 4158 grazing land Area Total Land under misc.& 4 4 5 4 Cropped 5678 6763 7502 7847 7935 7882 groves not included Area in net area sown Cropping 140 161 178 185 186 190 Current fallow 41 38 37 33 Intensity Fallow land other 1 1 4 4 Source: Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 1971, 1981, 2000, than current fallow 2001, 2010; Figures in parentheses indicate area under Net area sown 4187 4171 4158 4158 crops as percentage share to total cropped area.

Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol 2(2):221-226 222 Krishan et al. 2014; Groundwater level Analyses of Punjab, India: A quantitative approach

Net area sown as 83 83 83 83 EXPERIMENTAL percentage to total area The monthly water level data was measured Area sown more 3683 3741 3718 3724 in Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar & Kapurthala districts of than once Bist-Doab; Faridkot, Firozepur, Ludhiana, Gross cropped area 7870 7912 7876 7882 Bhatinda & Patiala districts of Malwa region and Source: Statistical Abstract, Punjab Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts of Table 5. Source wise net irrigated area in Majha region as shown in Table 6 and Figure 2. Punjab (‘000 ha.) Across these districts, detailed water level data Year Govt. Pvt . Tube Other Total % of canal canal well sour net sets has been generated sequentially on monthly & wells ces irriga basis over the last 8 years between January ted area 2006 to December 2013 for assessing the to patterns of groundwater level trends. The data net area processing was done to remove the erroneous sown data before statistical analysis. The erroneous 2007 - 1142 - 2922 4 4068 97.2 values were rectified. The box part of a box and 08 2008 - 1110 3 2950 1 4064 97.4 whisker plot represents the central 50% of the 09 data or the Inter-quartile Range (IQR). The lower 2009 - 1111 3 2955 2 4071 97.9 10 edge of the box plot is the first quartile or 25th 2010 - 1113 3 2954 - 4070 97.9 percentile. The upper edge of the box plot is the 11 Source: Statistical Abstract, Punjab third quartile or 75th percentile. Table 6. Observation sites Dis trict Block Longitude (E) Latitude (N) Hoshiarpur Bhunga 75.77083 31.65556 Mukerian 75.61000 31.95000 Talwara 75.89000 31.94000 Jalandhar 75.71000 31.42000 75.64000 31.56000 Kapurthala Dhilwan 75.24722 31.40833 Kapurthala 75.42222 31.30000 Nadala 75.43889 31.54556 75.77000 31.21750 Sultanpur Lodhi 75.26806 31.24722 Faridkot Faridkot 74.70278 30.62222 Kotkapura 74.97500 30.54167 Firozepur Firozepur 74.60000 30.91660 Guruharsahai 74.41638 30.71705 Mamdot 74.51667 30.79583 Figure 1. Rivers and (Majha, Doaba, Ludhiana Machivara 76.16250 30.96389 Malwa and Powadh) of Punjab Mangat 76.11250 30.88750 Pakhoval 75.81302 30.87133 The Punjab plains in the past 3-4 decades Patiala BhunerHeri 76.52167 30.27222 witnessed a boom in groundwater use and Nabha 76.17500 30.41250 Patiala 76.30000 30.36667 numerous important works exist on the problem Rajpura 76.59583 30.47500 of depleting water quality and fall in water tables Samana 76.14583 30.22778 Bhatinda 74.81667 30.20000 (Dhawan 1995; Sondhi et al . 2001; Ambast et al . Maur 75.23167 30.06444 2006; Krishan et al . 2013a, b; Krishan et al. Nathana 75.10833 30.30000 Phul 75.24306 30.28194 2014a, b, c; Rao et al., 2014; Sharma et al. , Sangat 75.16972 30.08333 2014). Many districts of Punjab show 100% or Talwandi 75.11667 29.91667 even greater levels of exploitation and the same Amritsar Ajnala 74.89583 31.85833 Majitha 75.05000 31.72917 is exhibited by a secular decline in pre-monsoon Rayya 75.23333 31.54167 water tables except for extremely wet years. Tarsika 75.17917 31.58333 Gurdaspur 75.22167 31.76528 Irrigation has been a major cause for high water Baba Nanak 75.01250 31.96528 level depletion ( Rodell et al . 2009). Dina Nagar 74.95972 31.92222 Gurdaspur 75.32167 32.06306 Fatehgarh Churian 74.98333 31.93333

Kahnuwan 75.45833 31.90833 Kalanaur 75.24167 32.01250

Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol 2(2):221-226 223 Krishan et al. 2014; Groundwater level Analyses of Punjab, India: A quantitative approach

SriHargovindpur 75.41528 31.63194 is found negatively skewed and in Tarn Taran it Tarn Taran Bikhiwind 74.67361 31.16556 Gandiwind 74.86346 31.53333 is positively skewed. Khadur Sahib 75.13333 31.38750 Naushera Pannua 74.83472 31.35417 32.5 Taran Taran 74.93333 31.49722

32.0 32.5 Sample Locations Himachal Pradesh Gurdaspur 31.5 Kalanaur 32.0 Dera Baba Nanak Mukerian Fatehgarh Churian Talwara Dina Nagar Kahnuwan Ajnala Batala Himachal Majitha Sri HargovindpurBhunga Tarsika Pradesh Gandiwind Rayya Nadala Bhogpur 31.0 31.5 Taran Taran Dhilwan Adampur Khadur Sahib Naushera Pannua Kapurthala Sultanpur Lodhi Phagwara Bikhiwind 30.5 31.0 Machivara Firozepur Mangat Pakhoval Mamdot Guruharsahai Faridkot Kotkapura 30.0 30.5 Rajpura Nabha Nathana Patiala Phul BhunerHeri Rajastha Bathinda Samana Sangat n Maur 369121518212427 30.0 29.5 Talwandi Haryana 74.0 74.5 75.0 75.5 76.0 76.5 77.0

29.5 Figure 4. Spatial variation in groundwater level in Punjab (2006-13) 74.0 74.5 75.0 75.5 76.0 76.5 77.0 Figure 2. Observation sites The maximum no. of upper outliers to the tune of 9 are found in Kapurthala, 5 in Gurdaspur, 4 in RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Ludhiana and 3 each in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. The maximum no. of lower outliers to the The groundwater level data has shown that tune of 6 are found in Firozepur and followed by the maximum decline due to tune of 9.75 m was 2 in Kapurthala, 1 each in Gurdaspur and Tarn found in Patiala, followed by 8.57 m in Bhatinda Taran. and least decline of 3.13 m was found in Jalandhar during the period 2006-2013 (Table 7, 30 Figure 3). The difference in change in phreatic 25 water levels may be due to local aquifers or 20 variation in the aquifer structures and availability 15 10 of groundwater. Since the water level is variable Level(mbgl) Water and all the locations, therefore, the spatial 5 0 Hoshiarpur Jalandhar Kapurthala Faridkot Firozepur Ludhiana Patiala Bhatinda Amritsar GurdaspurTarn Taran variation of water level is shown in Figure 4. Blocks Min Outlier Max Outlier 30 Figure 5. Box plot- groundwater level Hoshiarpur 25 Jalandhar variation in Punjab (2006-13) 20 Kapurthala Faridkot 15 Firozepur

(mbgl) The continuous rotation of wheat & paddy Ludhiana 10 Patiala cropping pattern, the soil and water of Punjab 5 Bhatinda Amritsar 0 Gurdaspur have been degraded and depleted. The Tarn Taran Jul_07 Jul_08 Jul_09 Jul_10 Jul_11 Jul_12 Jan_06 Jul_06 Jan_07 Jan_09 Jan_11 Jan_12 Jan_13 Apr_06 Oct_06 Apr_07 Oct_07 Oct_08 Oct_09 Oct_10 Apr_11 Oct_11 Jan_08 Jan_08 Jan_10 Oct_12 Apr_08 Apr_09 Apr_10 Jul _13 _13 Jul Apr _ 12 Apr_ Oct _13 _13 Oct Apr _13 Apr_13 extensive water use in Punjab is resulting in Figure 3. Groundwater level variation in falling groundwater levels. Similar results are Punjab (2006-13) also obtained in the detailed study carried out in Bist Doab region by Krishan et al (2014b, 2013a). As evident from the Figure 5 that the data is In the study, the automatic water level recorders almost symmetrical with maximum inter quartile were installed in the 6 piezometers and a high (2.87) is observed in Patiala, which is followed by resolution data was obtained. It was observed 1.50 in Faridkot and the least (0.61) was found in that the water level depth increased due to the Gurdaspur and Firozepur. In Gurdaspur the data more use of groundwater during Kharif season

Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol 2(2):221-226 224 Krishan et al. 2014; Groundwater level Analyses of Punjab, India: A quantitative approach and the water level depth decreased during the paddy fields, rivers (Beas, , Ravi), rain pre-monsoon period. water harvesting, managing saline water etc.

Table 6. Statistics of Groundwater level Acknowledgements : Authors wish to thank variation in Punjab (2006-13) Director, National Institute of Hydrology for all his District (mbgl) support and encouragement for this study. The Min Max Average S D funding received from Purpose Driven Studies under Hoshiarpur 8.76 13.75 10.62 1.06 HP-II is duly acknowledged. Dr. Gopal Krishan thanks Jalandhar 6.25 9.38 8.07 0.83 Dr. Alan MacDonald and Dr. Helen Bonsor (BGS- Kapurthala 13.57 20.54 16.53 1.54 DFID) for their support during the study. Authors Faridkot 7.52 11.18 8.95 1.00 thank Director (P.S. Bhogal) and Executive Engineer Firozepur 6.56 10.63 9.43 0.68 (J.P. Singh), Punjab Water Resources Environment Ludhiana 7.94 12.58 8.83 0.82 Director, Chandigarh for allowing us to use their Patiala 16.55 26.30 20.31 2.08 piezometers for taking the water level data. Bhatinda 9.35 17.92 10.89 1.06 Amritsar 8.78 13.83 10.57 0.84 REFERENCES Gurdaspur 5.46 9.07 6.80 0.61 Ambast S.K., Tyagi N.K., Raul S.K. (2006).

CONCLUSION Management of declining groundwater in the Trans Indo-Gangetic Plain (India): In this millennium, the fully developed Some options. Agricultural Water groundwater resources in Punjab will continue to Management , 82 (3): 279-296. be utilized for precious water, to enhance the Dhawan B.D. (1995). Groundwater depletion, land agriculture production, to meet stipulated food degradation and irrigated agriculture in demand and ensure food security. In order to India. New Delhi: Commonwealth Publishers. correct the imbalance in water budget and to Huffman G.J., Bolvin D.T., Nelkin E.J., Wolff D.B. restore sustainability to farming system, there is (2007). The TRMM Multisatellite immediate need to revert, at least partially, to the Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) quasi global, cropping systems. No doubt, the challenge multiyear, combined sensor precipitation before the farming community, development estimates at fine scales. workers and agricultural scientists is really Hydrometeorology, 8, 38-55. difficult but the challenge must be met if we are Jain, A.K. (2012). Water Management Strategies in really interested to sustain agriculture in the Punjab, India in ‘Perspectives on Water’ granary state. The areas showing marked decline Powell and Mitra in water levels should practice artificial recharge. Jha, BM Sinha S.K. (2009). Towards better It is also essential to strengthen soil, water and management of groundwater resources in India.http://www.cgwb.gov.in/documents/p groundwater institutions along with capacity apers/incidpapers/Paper%201-B.M.Jha.pdf building, training and education in specific areas Krishan Gopal, Lapworth D.J., Rao M.S., Kumar .C.P, like artificial recharge, groundwater modeling, Smilovic M, Semwal P (2014a). Natural watershed management, quality monitoring, and (Baseline) Groundwater Quality in the Bist- aquifer remediation on a continuous basis. Doab Catchment, Punjab, India: A Pilot Lastly, if immediate remedial measures are not Study Comparing Shallow and Deep taken to reverse the declining trend of water Aquifers. Int. J. Earth Sc. Engg. 7: 16--26 table, it would be difficult to sustain even the Krishan Gopal, Lohani A.K.., Rao M.S. Kumar C.P. existing food grain production in the state, (2014b). Prioritization of groundwater thereby, affecting the socio-economic condition monitoring sites using cross-correlation of the farmers, specially the small and marginal analysis. NDC-WWC Journal. 3 (1): 28-31. Krishan Gopal, Rao M.S., Purushotaman, P., Yawat, farmers. The management measures are for Y.S. and Kumar C.P. (2014c). reducing water withdrawal by increasing Groundwater Resources in Bist-Doab groundwater recharge–construction of check region, Punjab, India-An overview. NDC- dams, recharging in Kandi area, recharge WWC Journal. (in press) through village ponds, tubewells, dug wells,

Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol 2(2):221-226 225 Krishan et al. 2014; Groundwater level Analyses of Punjab, India: A quantitative approach

Sharma Manishi, Rao M.S., Rathore D.S., Krishan Hydrochemical and Isotopic Investigation Gopal (2014). An integrated approach to of Groundwater Regime in Jalandhar and augment the depleting ground water Kapurthala Districts, Punjab, India. Int. J. resource in bist- doab, region of Punjab, Earth Sc. Engg., 7 (01): 06-15. India. Int. J. Earth Sc. Engg. 7: 27--38 Rodell M., Velicogna I,. Famiglietti, J.S. (2009) Krishan Gopal, Lohani A.K., Rao M.S., Kumar Satellite-based estimates of groundwater C.P., Semwal P (2013a). Optimization of depletion in India. Nature, 460, 999-1003 groundwater monitoring network in Bist- Sondhi S.K., Kaushal M.P., Aggrawal R. (2001). Doab, Punjab. In: International Conference Management of GroundwaterResources in “India Water Week 2013-Efficient Water Punjab. In ICAR-IWMI Groundwater Policy Management: Challenges and Initiative-2001. Opportunities" (IWW-2013)”, pp. 274 Statistical Abstract of Punjab, 1971, 1981, 2000, Krishan Gopal, Rao MS, Kumar CP, Semwal P. 2001, 2003, 2009. Economic & Statistical (2013b). Identifying Salinization using Organisation, Government of Punjab. Isotopes and Ionchemistry in Semi-Arid Vashisht A..K.. (2008). Status of water resources in Region of Punjab, India . J. Geol. Geosci. Punjab and its management strategies. J. 2:4, http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/jgg.1000129 Ind. Water. Res. 28, 1-8. Rao M. S., Purushothaman P., Krishan Gopal, Rawat Y. S. and Kumar C. P. (2014).

Source of Support: Purpose Driven Study -Hydrology Project II, World Bank ; BGS -DFID, UK . Conflict of interest: None declared.

Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol 2(2):221-226 226