To tackle Punjab’s mounting groundwater crisis, Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission (PSFFWC) has commissioned a detailed scientific study on the state’s water availability and pressing water-related issues. Conducted by the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, the report has been submitted to a Legislative Committee of six MLAs, led by Gurjit Singh Rana, under the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Impressed by the scope of the study, the Committee has now directed PSFFWC to initiate a deeper, micro-level research using advanced tools like Carbon Dating, Isotope Hydrology, and seepage pattern mapping to identify sustainable solutions to Punjab’s depleting water tables.

A high-level meeting convened by PSFFWC on Friday brought together India’s top water scientists and institutional leaders to chart out a road map. Chaired by Prof Dr Sukhpal Singh, PSFFWC chairman, the meeting featured experts from IIT Ropar, IIT Mandi, and NIH Roorkee — including Dr Pushpendra Pal Singh, Dr Sarbjot Kaur, Dr Harshad Kulkarni, Dr Ranjeet K Jha, and Dr Gopal Krishan. Dr Gurkanwal Singh, former Director of Horticulture, also contributed. The deliberations were coordinated by PSFFWC Secretary Dr Ranjodh S Bains and focused on 15 core agenda points concerning Punjab’s water resilience.

The experts highlighted a series of scientific interventions that could prove transformative for the agrarian state. These include advanced isotopic mapping and carbon dating of aquifers to understand recharge dynamics, heliborne surveys to identify paleo-channels, and basin-specific strategies to tackle regional issues like salinity and waterlogging, especially in South-West Punjab. The feasibility of developing a five Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) reservoir on the Ujh River was also discussed to augment water availability in Central Punjab.

The panel further recommended the revival of traditional water bodies and abandoned wells, scientific characterization of aquifers to determine safe extraction limits, and the promotion of salt-tolerant and heavy metal-absorbing plant species. The need for climate-resilient agricultural practices and flood adaptation strategies was also emphasized. “Punjab needs to act now — not just to prevent future water distress but to reverse current ecological degradation,” the experts unanimously agreed.

In a landmark development, representatives from IIT Ropar, IIT Mandi, and NIH Roorkee gave in-principle approval to sign a Consortium Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PSFFWC. The formal collaboration will facilitate a comprehensive 15-point research and implementation project, combining the scientific rigour of India’s premier institutions with the policy and execution capacity of the Commission. The project aims to integrate research, field intervention, awareness, and policy planning to conserve Punjab’s groundwater resources.

Dr Ranjodh S Bains, who is spearheading the initiative, said that the meeting’s outcomes would form the foundation of a state-wide water conservation mission. “The convergence of academic research with real-world policy execution is what makes this mission both practical and visionary,” he added.

Prof Dr Sukhpal reiterated the urgent need for data-backed, science-driven policies to safeguard Punjab’s water future. “Our aim is not just preservation, but regeneration. With the combined expertise of these national institutions, we are confident that Punjab can lead the way in sustainable water governance,” he said.

The ambitious collaborative initiative will adopt both short-term and long-term strategies to mitigate water stress, with interventions spanning groundwater recharge, contamination prevention, aquifer management, sustainable irrigation, and public awareness. It also envisions community participation, youth engagement, and innovative use of technology to monitor progress and ensure accountability.

With this major push, Punjab is now poised to become a national model for scientific water management, potentially rivalling developed countries in terms of sustainable water use, recharge, and ecological resilience.

Key Components of the 15-Point Water Conservation Plan

·         Carbon dating and isotope hydrology studies of aquifers

·         Heliborne surveys to trace paleo-channels for recharge

·         Region-specific flood, salinity, and waterlogging strategies

·         Feasibility study of Ujh River reservoir (5 BCM)

·         Scientific aquifer profiling for sustainable extraction

·         Salt-tolerant and pollutant-absorbing plant species promotion

·         Revival of traditional ponds and wells

·         Micro-irrigation and low-water agriculture promotion

·         Agricultural climate resilience and disaster preparedness

·         Prevention of groundwater contamination

·         Public awareness, education, and farmer engagement

·         Real-time monitoring using AI and remote sensing

·         Community-led water governance models

·         Inter-agency coordination and knowledge sharing

·         Signing of MoU between IIT Ropar, IIT Mandi, NIH and PSFFWC for joint implementation