Excerpted from: Punjab Under Siege: A Critical Analysis, by Iqbal Singh

After the creation of Pakistan the Sikhs found themselves concentrated generally in the central tracts of the pre1967 Punjab and Hindus predominantly in the hilly tracts to the cast which later went to Himachal Pradesh and drier areas to the south which after 1967 became Haryana. Because of the geographical variations these areas require different and al times contending development strategies. The central tracts are better suited to intensive agriculture based on privately owned developed wells along with canal and ranted land whereas the relatively drier areas to the east and south require to be developed as predominantly canaled farms, Clearly government policies that aided development of private wells were of no benefit to either eastern or southern tracts. the other hand construction of canals imposed heavy obligation on the central tracts for it entailed heavier cost burden on the central farmers whose land revenue assessments were heavy because of the higher cropping densities and greater acreage in market crops. It caused serious disruption in the drainage of this region on account of raised banks which’ resulted in flooding on their upstream side during the rainy season. Furthermore it raised the water tables resulting in waterlogging and crop loss. Lastly, canals take away 1a portions of better lands over which they need to be built and generally induce salinity in: the waters of surrounding vicinity.

Distribution of Punjab’s water resources and construction of anew. Suuej Yamuna link canal that is intended to add to the southward flow of water from Punjab’s Beas and Ravi rivers are two of the more vexing and volatile problems in the current crisis. Punjab, the only riparian state in the issue, was allocated 24% of the total flow under a central award in 1976, the rest of the water going to Rajasthan and Haryana. Punjab opposes the transfer of its waters on a number of grounds, Firstly, the water table has gone down by 10 meters in certain areas during the last decade because of heavy tube well extraction. According to an estimate, at the present level of extraction Punjab’s water table will drop to about 70 meters by the end of this century. Secondly, only one fifth of Punjab is now capable of accepting tube wells. Besides, 60% of Punjab’s current water needs are being met from the existing tube wells. In the light of these facts the river waters are needed for Punjab’s own use.

Thirdly, the proposed Sutlej Yamuna link canal will take away large tracts of Punjab’s fertile land. In addition it will result in flooding and rising levels of saline water. Fourthly, the multiple cropping pattern is on the increase in Punjab and is likely to double by the end of the century. Additional water is needed for this fertilizer intensive operation. Fifthly, the Punjab farmer is paying heavily for relying on tube well irrigation. For instance, the per acre capital cost of tube well irrigation in 1981 was Rupees 1200 (about $100). The running expenses of an electricity powered and diesel powered tube well are three and 12 times more expensive respectively than the cost of canal irrigation. Of the total irrigated area of 8.5 million acres in Punjab in 1981, 60% was irrigated by tube and 40% by canals. Sixthly, Punjab is the only riparian state, and has due constitutional rights to protect its water resources, which can be transferred only in case of surplus water over and above its own needs. There are clear legal precedents in India, for instance the Narbada Waters award, in which Rajasthan was denied water by the fact of its no riparian status. Punjab has argued that the water issue be referred to the Supreme Court for adjudication as against the center’s desire for a negotiated settlement.

There is the problem of falling water tables due to damming of the Punjab’s three rivers and excessive use of tube wells. Out of the 33 MAF (million acre feet) of water available in the three Punjab rivers about 20 MAF already flows to other states. All the main rivers have been dammed up and their waters distributed. “There is a critical Situation in the state. The water table has fallen in half of the state: in some areas it has gone down by. 10 meters in the years 1975 to 1984. As many as 60 out of the state’s 118 blocks are black areas where no tube wells can be allowed. Twenty two blocks falling in grey areas are turning fast black. Another 14 have saline water. There are only 22 white blocks one fifth of the total.” In a related study, the water resources cell of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, pointed out that “while in southwest. Punjab where subsoil. Water is turning saline and the water tab lensing is becoming uncultivable (five lakh (one half million) acres have already become waterlogged), in the central districts, where the table has been falling, the state is Turing into a desert. Punjab’s Irrigation and Power Commissioner Boparai pleaded “We (Punjab) should be declared a no further exploitation by transfer area.” Punjab farmers’ opposition to the construction of Sultlej Yamuna Link canal has to be viewed in the above context.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 9, 1993