{"id":165080,"date":"2026-08-31T20:38:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timespunjab.com\/?p=165080"},"modified":"2026-09-02T00:48:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T19:18:39","slug":"punjab-records-first-rise-in-groundwater-levels-after-decades-barinder-kumar-goyal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timespunjab.com\/?p=165080","title":{"rendered":"Punjab Records First Rise in Groundwater Levels After Decades: Barinder Kumar Goyal"},"content":{"rendered":"

– Groundwater extraction declines from 164% in 2022 to 152.22% in 2026; over-exploited blocks reduce from 117 to 110, safe blocks rise from 17 to 20<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Punjab\u2019s sustained push for canal irrigation begins yielding visible results: Barinder Goyal<\/strong><\/p>\n

– \u20b97,500 crore invested to expand canal network & strengthen irrigation infrastructure; canal water utilisation rises from 26% to 82%<\/strong><\/p>\n

– 16% electricity saving recorded as farmers reduce dependence on groundwater pumping; More than 510 recharge schemes contribute 38 lakh cubic metres of groundwater recharge: Barinder Goyal<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Rajinder Kumar) CHANDIGARH; 31st August 2026: <\/strong>Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today said that the state has registered a significant turnaround in its groundwater situation, with the latest 2026 assessment of the Central Ground Water Board showing, for the first time in decades, an improvement in groundwater levels. He said the stage of groundwater development has declined from 164% in 2022 to 152.22% in 2026, while the number of over-exploited assessment units has fallen from 117 to 110 and safe units have increased from 17 to 20.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Monday, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, \u201cThe latest assessment of the Central Ground Water Board provides an important validation of the sustained efforts of the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to conserve groundwater by taking canal water directly to agricultural fields.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Water Resources Minister said the latest groundwater data clearly reflects the impact of these interventions. \u201cThe annual groundwater extraction has declined from 28.02 BCM in 2022 to 26.32 BCM in the 2026 assessment, while the overall stage of groundwater development has also witnessed a substantial decline,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a major development for Punjab. For decades, groundwater levels had been witnessing a continuous decline. For the first time, we have witnessed it rising,\u201d said Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said Punjab has 153 groundwater assessment blocks categorised as Safe, Semi-Critical, Critical and Over-Exploited. \u201cThe latest assessment shows that several blocks that had earlier fallen in the Over-Exploited and Critical categories have improved and moved into better categories,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Giving details of the improvement, the Water Resources Minister noted 14 groundwater assessment blocks have changed their categorisation in comparison to 2025, including four blocks that have moved into the Safe category.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arniwala Sheikh Subanpur in Fazilka has improved from Semi-Critical to Safe, with groundwater extraction declining from 73.34% in 2025 to 64.38% in 2026. Makhu in Ferozepur has moved from Semi-Critical to Safe, with extraction declining from 77.85% to 66.82%. Hajipur in Hoshiarpur has improved from Semi-Critical to Safe, with extraction declining from 81.67% to 62.16%, while Narot Jaimal Singh in Pathankot has moved from Semi-Critical to Safe, with extraction declining from 70.94% to 66.47%.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The remaining 10 blocks have also recorded improvement in their categorisation. Ferozepur has moved from Critical to Semi-Critical, with groundwater extraction declining from 94.49% to 76.66%; Mamdot has moved from Critical to Semi-Critical, with extraction declining from 99.85% to 86.59%; Gurdaspur has moved from Over-Exploited to Critical, with extraction declining from 110.70% to 92.93%; and Kahnuwan has moved from Over-Exploited to Critical, with extraction declining from 101.04% to 98.01%.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Similarly, Sri Hargobindpur has moved from Critical to Semi-Critical, with extraction declining from 95.53% to 75.54%; Bhunga from Critical to Semi-Critical, with extraction declining from 92.14% to 84.17%;\u00a0Hoshiarpur-2\u00a0from Critical to Semi-Critical, with extraction declining from 97.81% to 78.53%; Mahilpur from Over-Exploited to Critical, with extraction declining from 109.86% to 92.23%; Kot Ise Khan (Dharamkot) in Moga from Over-Exploited to Critical, with extraction declining from 114.32% to 97.67%; and Aur in SBS Nagar from Critical to Semi-Critical, with extraction declining from 90.84% to 89.91%.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said another 95 blocks have also shown improvement to varying degrees. Consequently, 109 of the total 153 groundwater assessment blocks in Punjab have registered improvement, which he described as a significant achievement for the state.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of these 95 blocks, three have recorded more than 30% improvement, seven have shown improvement between 20% and 30%, 23 have improved between 10% and 20%, while 62 have registered improvement between 0% and 10%.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Water Resources Minister said the improvement in Punjab\u2019s groundwater scenario has resulted from a combination of increased groundwater recharge and reduced groundwater extraction. \u201cImproved utilisation of canal water, rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation infrastructure, water conservation and recharge measures have collectively contributed to the positive change,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said the large-scale restoration of canals, rehabilitation and expansion of watercourses, laying of pipelines and ensuring that canal water reaches every tail-end field have further strengthened the state\u2019s groundwater conservation efforts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said, \u201cThe objective was clear: take canal water to the fields so that farmers do not have to depend entirely on groundwater. This is not merely an irrigation intervention; it is an effort to secure Punjab\u2019s water reserves for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said the groundwater situation had become particularly alarming over the years as groundwater levels in Punjab continued to decline consistently. \u201cThe Punjab Government therefore adopted a focused strategy to increase utilisation of available canal water and strengthen the canal network across the state,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said canal water utilisation, which was only around 26% till 2022, has now increased to 82%. \u201cTo achieve this transformation, the Punjab Government has invested around \u20b97,500 crore and constructed and strengthened thousands of kilometres of watercourses and other irrigation infrastructure,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said efficient utilisation of Punjab\u2019s share of water stored in the state\u2019s reservoirs has also been made a key priority. \u201cPunjab has 1,117 canals and minors, whose utilisation historically remained considerably below their designed carrying capacity,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said that while the carrying capacity of the canal system is around 36,000 cusecs, Punjab has been regularly supplying around 39,000 cusecs of canal water since June 1 this year. \u201cThe increased availability of canal water has enabled farmers in several areas to undertake paddy cultivation using canal water instead of extracting groundwater through tubewells,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said taking canal water directly to agricultural fields has simultaneously helped conserve groundwater and reduce electricity consumption, with the state recording around 16% saving in electricity due to reduced dependence on groundwater extraction. \u201cWhen canal water reaches the farmer\u2019s field, it not only saves groundwater but also reduces the electricity required for pumping. This is a direct benefit for both the farmer and Punjab\u2019s water resources,\u201d said Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Water Resources Minister stated farmers are now witnessing the benefits of assured canal irrigation through improved availability of water for crops, while also reducing their dependence on electricity-intensive groundwater pumping.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said increased groundwater recharge has also contributed to the improvement, with more than 510 recharge schemes installed across the state. \u201cThese include recharge through ponds, canal-based recharge structures and kambati wells. The schemes have together contributed around 38 lakh cubic metres of recharge, which is more than the storage capacity of Siswan Dam,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the initiatives undertaken by the Punjab Government would further strengthen groundwater conservation and help reduce the stage of groundwater development in the coming years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He emphasised that groundwater conservation is not merely an environmental necessity for Punjab but is directly linked with the country\u2019s food security. \u201cPunjab continues to make a major contribution to the Central Foodgrain Pool and has historically played a pivotal role in ensuring the country\u2019s food security. Protecting groundwater is therefore directly connected with protecting the country\u2019s food security,\u201d said Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He said that had the alarming depletion of groundwater continued unchecked, it could have posed a serious threat not only to Punjab\u2019s agricultural economy but also to national food security. \u201cThe Punjab Government has therefore taken decisive steps to safeguard the state\u2019s water resources while protecting the interests of future generations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Water Resources Minister said the latest groundwater findings are a source of encouragement for Punjab and strengthen the government\u2019s resolve to further expand canal irrigation and groundwater conservation measures. \u201cThe Punjab Government under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann remains committed to sustainable water management and securing the state\u2019s agricultural future,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prominent among those present were Sher Singh, Chief Engineer (Canal and Groundwater), Manoj Bansal, Superintendent Engineer (Groundwater), and senior officers of the Water Resources Department.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

– Groundwater extraction declines from 164% in 2022 to 152.22% in 2026; over-exploited blocks reduce…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":165082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,43,388,20],"tags":[3889,3878,3927,3888],"class_list":["post-165080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-english","category-political","category-punjab","tag-latestupdate","tag-newsupdate","tag-punjabnews","tag-timespunjab"],"yoast_head":"\nPunjab Records First Rise in Groundwater Levels After Decades: Barinder Kumar Goyal -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Punjab Records First 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