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This is an archive article published on November 5, 2019
Punjab defends its Water Act: 7-day delay has helped state save 1,000 billion litres of water
Under the Act, the government has delayed the date for paddy transplantation from June 1 to June 20 in previous years. This year, it advanced the date to June 13.
The delay in transplantation is being blamed for stubble burning, as farmers say their window to prepare fields for the next wheat crop shrinks.
With Supreme Court on Monday underlining the issue of Punjab farmers being forced to change paddy cultivation pattern after enactment of Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act, 2009, state government functionaries and agriculture experts said that saving underground water is need of the hour while there are several options for paddy stubble management.
Under the Act, the government has delayed the date for paddy transplantation from June 1 to June 20 in previous years. This year, it advanced the date to June 13.
The delay in transplantation is being blamed for stubble burning, as farmers say their window to prepare fields for the next wheat crop shrinks.
Defending the decision, Punjab’s Agriculture Secretary Kahan Singh Pannu said: “By delaying paddy transplantation by seven days, we save 1,000 billion litres of water. This is the total water consumption of Ludhiana, an industrial town, for two years. This is the scientifically calculated average for 14 lakh tubewells run for eight hours a day.”
Explained
Law delayed paddy sowing to save water
The idea behind Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act, enacted at the insistence of agriculture scientist Dr G S Kalkat, who was chairman of Punjab State Farmers Commission, was to delay paddy transplantation and not allow it during hot and dry days. This meant cutting down on consumption of underground water.
Calling the situation “grave”, Pannu said the main reason of declining water table is paddy cultivation.
Punjab Agricultural University Vice Chancelleor Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon said: “You can manage stubble; there are many options. Where will you bring the water from if it is finished?”
Agriculture experts said 4,500 litres of water is required to grow 1 kg of sathi —- a short-term paddy crop – in April-May. If paddy is cultivated in mid-June, the requirement is 1,500-2,000 litres. “Is it not a lot of saving,” a state government official asked.
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