Groundwater crisis in Punjab is widening social and economic divide

…contribute the least to environmental degradation. This makes it clear that the groundwater crisis in Punjab has deepened social and economic inequality in the State,” Prof. Kaur said. Experts voice similar concerns. “ Punjab’s blanket, free agricultural electricity is economically crippling the vulnerable smallholders it was meant to protect. Capital-rich large farmers heavily dominate groundwater extraction. Facing no financial constraints, they have been in the past proactively securing electricity connections for their new and even additional tube-wells, and they have been continuously, fearlessly deepening their…

…small farmers have fewer pumping motors per unit area because most of their operational holdings consist of leased-in land. Paddy, tube wells and depleting groundwater: Why Punjab’s water resources are under strain “ It is apparent that large farmers obtain higher returns over cost despite their low groundwater productivity, while the reverse is true in the case of small marginal farmers. The implication of this is that large farmers, who contribute the most to environmental degradation and threaten water sustainability, benefit the most in terms of income accrued, while small and marginal farmers, who bear the cost of environmental degradation and lack of water availability, contribute the least to environmental degradation. This makes it clear that the groundwater crisis in Punjab has deepened social and economic inequality in the State ,” Prof. Kaur said. Experts voice similar concerns. “Punjab’s blanket, free agricultural electricity is economically crippling the vulnerable smallholders it was meant to protect. Capital-rich large farmers heavily…