Expressing concern over the depleting groundwater level in the State, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution urging the Punjab Government to take immediate steps for saving the groundwater of the State.
Besides, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh also announced to constitute a high-level committee for exploring the ways and means to recharge the water table.
The decision came after Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid, while participating in the debate on the deteriorating groundwater table in the State, proposed the constitution of a committee to study the matter.
Immediately swinging into action, the Speaker announced to constitute the panel that would submit its report within three months.
“The matter is too serious and as the worthy members of the House have taken up this issue, it is the moral duty of the House to intervene in the matter,” said the Speaker while urging the Punjab Government to depute the Principal Secretary (Water Resources Department) for assisting the committee.
He said that besides looking into this grave matter, the Committee will also propose ways and means to recharge the water table so that this precious natural resource can be saved for the coming generations.
Unanimously welcoming the announcement of the Speaker, the entire House thanked him by thumping the tables.
Earlier, taking part in the discussion, the Cabinet Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said that the water is the most precious resource for human existence.
They said that the State Government is duty-bound to save the water for our coming generations. Both the Ministers said that the Government is already sensitized towards this issue and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause.
The non-official resolution was collectively moved by Congress MLAs Harminder Singh Gill, Navtej Singh Cheema, Dalbir Singh Goldy Khangura, Barindermeet Singh Pahra, Rajinder Singh, Pritam Singh Kotbhai and Hardayal Singh Kamboj, which was presented in the Assembly by Gill.
Beginning the discussion, Gill said that the groundwater level in Punjab is continuously falling and 109 blocks of Punjab have come under the dark zone.
He advocated a change in farming practices to save and recharge the ground water level of the State while asking to move towards focusing on sowing less water guzzling crops.
Former Minister Rana Gurjit said that it was very important to recharge the groundwater or else in the coming 20-25 years, Punjab’s land will be converted into a desert. He insisted on diversification of crops, especially sugarcane, which ensured income for the farmers, and redemption from crops consuming excessive water.
Rejecting several recommendations in the Centre’s groundwater report, Rana Gurjit appealed to the Punjab Government to conduct a detailed study on its own level.
Strongly disagreeing with the Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s suggestion to hand over agriculture research to the Centre due to scarcity of funds, SAD MLA Harinder Pal Singh Chandumajra said that the move would further compromise the powers of States.
“This would only further strengthen the Centre’s hold on States and could result in more interference in the State affairs. What is needed is putting up a strong case for allocation of more central funds for agriculture research instead of abrogating this responsibility,” said Chandumajra while asking the State Government to take concrete steps to tackle the problem of groundwater depletion.
Chandumajra said that as per current data, in another two decades, the water level in the State would fall to 1000 feet. “The only way out is to augment the canal irrigation system in the State. Unfortunately, nothing is being done on this issue with only Rs 100 crore being kept for the Irrigation Department which is spent on salaries with no money being spent on new projects,” he said.
SAD legislator said that similarly, efforts should be made to utilize the water flowing wastefully to Pakistan, saying that the government should expedite the Makowal dam proposal.
Also raising the issue of ensuring remunerative payment to farmers for alternate crops like maize, he said that the State Government should include maize in the public distribution system which would allow it to avail of central funds to subsidize the MSP in case maize was purchased at less than the MSP by private players.
AAP MLA and the Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema also offered suggestions on crop variation, conservation of water sources and saving water.
Similarly, SAD’s Gurpratap Singh Wadala suggested using a drain system for groundwater recharge, preparation of recharge well. AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu also suggested the inclusion of pulses, maize, and other such crops in crop variation, so that there is less exploitation of water and increase the income of the farmer.
