Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday (August 6, 2026) said that the State government has made strides in reversing the decades-long depletion of Punjab’s groundwater table through large-scale canal revival, watercourse restoration and groundwater recharge initiatives.

Mr. Cheema said, “For the past 25 to 30 years, continuous extraction had caused groundwater levels to plummet, forcing farmers to constantly deepen tubewells and increase electricity loads. To combat this, the current government has embarked on a massive mission to restore the State’s canal network. By laying and reviving 16,000 kilometers of watercourses and releasing around 39,049 cusecs of water into canals, the State government has successfully ensured that canal water reaches the tail-end of every farmer’s field,” he said, addressing a press conference here.

He said, “This effort has yielded remarkable results, with groundwater levels rising by 3 to 5 meters in several blocks across the State. Utilising mineral-rich canal water instead of excessive groundwater extraction has boosted crop yields for wheat and paddy by 1 to 2 quintals per acre, directly increasing farmers’ incomes while easing the burden on power consumption and preserving natural energy.”

He said in a bid to strengthen groundwater recharge, the municipal committees in various cities have made rainwater recharge wells mandatory for the approval of any new building site plans. “To ensure rainwater is effectively channelled back into the earth rather than running off wastefully, the State government has also granted administrative approval to numerous groundwater recharge schemes. A total of 510 schemes have been implemented, including 192 pond-based recharge schemes and 246 canal-based recharge schemes,” he added.

Published - August 07, 2026 10:28 am IST