Punjab has recorded signs of improvement in its groundwater situation, with the latest assessment indicating a decline in groundwater extraction rates and better performance across several assessment blocks.
The Bhagwant Mann government has attributed the change to measures aimed at increasing canal water usage and reducing dependence on groundwater.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, AAP Punjab State Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu said the state’s groundwater extraction rate has fallen from 163.80% in 2021-22 to 152.22% in 2025-26, marking an improvement of 11.58 percentage points over four years.
Pannu said that 95 out of Punjab’s 153 dark-zone blocks have shown improvement. He added that the number of critical blocks has reduced from 10 to six, while four blocks-Arniwala (Fazilka), Makhu (Ferozepur), Hajipur (Hoshiarpur) and Narot Jaimal Singh (Pathankot)-have moved into the safe category.
According to Pannu, the state government has focused on expanding the use of canal water to ease pressure on groundwater resources. He claimed canal water utilisation has increased from around 21% in 2022 to more than 80% at present.
He said the government has made 14,100 canals operational, restored over 400 km of closed canals and lined more than 1,000 km of canal networks. Groundwater recharge structures have also been developed to improve water replenishment.
Pannu further stated that Punjab’s annual groundwater recharge now stands at 19.14 billion cubic metres. Recharge from canal water alone has reportedly increased from 4.5 billion cubic metres last year to 5.5 billion cubic metres this year.
Highlighting the state’s continued dependence on groundwater for farming, he said nearly 24.95 billion cubic metres of the total 26.32 billion cubic metres of groundwater extracted annually is used for agriculture, while the remaining amount is consumed for domestic and industrial purposes.
While acknowledging that Punjab continues to face a significant groundwater challenge, Pannu said the latest assessment suggests that corrective measures are beginning to yield results. He also criticised previous governments led by the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress and BJP, questioning the utilisation of canal water resources during their tenure. According to him, the current government has adopted a planned and infrastructure-driven approach to water management.
The Punjab government maintains that the reduction in groundwater extraction, improved canal water utilisation and positive changes in several assessment blocks are important indicators of progress in addressing the state’s long-standing groundwater crisis.