The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday claimed that Punjab’s groundwater situation is showing signs of improvement, citing the latest assessment figures as evidence of efforts to expand canal-water use and reduce reliance on groundwater.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said the Bhagwant Mann-led government had focused on improving canal infrastructure and increasing the utilisation of Punjab’s allocated canal water.
“For decades, we heard about the need to save Punjab’s waters. We saw leaders calling themselves protectors of Punjab’s water, carrying symbolic tools and making emotional speeches. But the question is simple: what did they actually do? The answer is now before Punjab in the form of official data.”
Pannu said canal-water utilisation has increased to around 80-82%, compared with approximately 21% in 2022. He said 14,100 watercourses have been activated, more than 400 km of defunct canals restored and over 1,000 km of canals concretised. Recharge points have also been created along repaired canal networks, he added.
According to the figures cited by Pannu, Punjab’s groundwater extraction stage fell from 163.80% in 2021-22 to 156.36% in 2025 and 152.22% in 2025-26. Annual extraction also declined from around 28.01 billion cubic metres to 26.32 billion cubic metres.
“11.58 percentage points may look like a number on paper, but for Punjab this means that we are finally moving in the right direction after decades of decline,” Baltej Pannu said.
He said 95 of the state’s 153 dark-zone blocks had improved, while critical blocks declined from 10 to six. Four blocks have moved into the safe category, he added.
Groundwater recharge was assessed at 19.14 billion cubic metres, including 5.5 billion cubic metres through canal water.
Pannu acknowledged that Punjab continues to face groundwater stress but said the latest data indicates a positive shift. He also defended the government’s water policy, saying it had focused on increasing the use of Punjab’s own canal-water allocation rather than reducing its share.
