Groundwater level dips 1.2 metre every year in Kurukshetra villages

Nitish Sharma

Kurukshetra, February 20

The groundwater level in Ladwa, Pehowa and Shahabad blocks of Kurukshetra is decreasing at a rate of 1.2 metre, 1.5 metre and 1.65 to 2 metre per year, respectively.

As many as 51 villages of Pehowa, 65 villages of Shahabad, and 75 villages of Ladwa block in Kurukshetra district were identified as dark zones and selected under the Atal Bhujal Yojana of the Centre Government to improve the groundwater.

According to a survey report of June 2021, the groundwater level has dropped to 33.42 metre in Ladwa, 39.54 metre in Pehowa, and 44.39 metre in Shahabad. The groundwater experts, who have been preparing the water security plans under the scheme, observed that nearly 8 to 14 times more water than its requirement is drawn from the ground for agriculture, domestic and livestock purposes.

Groundwater expert Dr Naveen Nain said, “We have been collecting the scientific data related to groundwater situation in 189 targeted villages of Kurukshetra district.”

“Out of 433 villages, 422 villages are categorised as severely groundwater stressed. Farmers have to adopt crop diversification and use micro-irrigation schemes to stop the over exploitation of the groundwater,” Dr Nain said. “Piezometers will be installed in 189 villages to measure and keep a watch on fluctuation in water table. Due to confined aquifer conditions, the groundwater recharge capacity is slow,” Dr Nain added.