Ground Water Depletion in Haryana: A Challenge for Sustainability of Agriculture Sector

Abstract

Haryana is an agriculturally developed state. The total geographical area is 44.21 lakh hectares. Currently, in Haryana, 35.36 lakh hectares (80%) area under cultivation. About 30.06 lakh hectare area which is 85% of the total cropped area is irrigated through tub wells and canals in the states. The share of tub wells irrigated area is 54.20% and canal irrigated area is 45.30% in the state. The remaining 0.5% cropped area is irrigated through other sources. The over-exploitation of groundwater resources through electric and diesel pumping sets leads to a significant alteration in water availability. The groundwater level in various districts like Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Mahendragarh, Gurugram, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Panipat has reached below 40 meters. From 1974 to 2019 the average decline in groundwater level is about 10.65 meters in the state. The monoculture of water-intensive crops like rice and wheat cultivation since the past few decades worsened the situation in the state. Curative measures like the balance between groundwater extraction and recharge, crop diversification, micro irrigation, and remunerative prices for low water-requiring crops are necessary for the sustainable use of groundwater resources for future generations.