NEW DELHI: Punjab’s groundwater crisis is showing signs of improvement, with the latest assessment indicating a decline in groundwater extraction and an increase in canal-water utilisation, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said on Monday.Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh earlier today, Pannu attributed the improvement to the Bhagwant Mann government’s efforts to strengthen canal infrastructure, increase the use of canal water and reduce dependence on groundwater.Pannu said canal-water utilisation has risen to around 80-82% from roughly 21% in 2022. He said the government had activated 14,100 watercourses, restored more than 400 km of defunct canals and concretised over 1,000 km of canals. Recharge points have also been developed along repaired canal infrastructure, he said.According to Pannu, Punjab’s stage of groundwater extraction declined from 163.80% in 2021-22 to 156.36% in 2025 and 152.22% in 2025-26. Annual groundwater extraction also fell from around 28.01 billion cubic metres to 26.32 billion cubic metres.
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95 dark-zone blocks show improvementPannu said the latest assessment showed improvement in 95 of Punjab’s 153 dark-zone blocks, while the number of critical blocks fell from 10 to six. Four blocks — Arniwala in Fazilka, Makhu in Ferozepur, Hajipur in Hoshiarpur and Narot Jaimal Singh in Pathankot — have moved into the safe category, he said.Another 14 blocks have recorded significant improvement, according to Pannu.Pannu said total annual groundwater recharge has increased to 19.14 billion cubic metres, including 5.53 billion cubic metres from rainfall and 5.5 billion cubic metres through canal water. Canal-water recharge increased from 4.5 billion cubic metres last year to 5.5 billion cubic metres this year, he said.