TITLE: SPATIO-TEMPORAL STUDY OF TUBEWELL DENSITY IN CENTRAL

PUNJAB.

Corresponding Author: Mr. Maninder Singh

First Author: Maninder Singh
Order of Authors: Maninder Singh, Samanpreet Kaur, Anil Sood, Rajan Aggarwal
1. PG Scholar, Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana,
Punjab.(email: manidhillon1989@gmail.com)
2. Assistant Research Engineer, Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana, Punjab. (email: samanpreet1974@gmail.com)
3. Scientist SF, Punjab Remote Sensing Center, Ludhiana, Punjab. (email:
anilsood_prsc@rediffmail.com)
4. Senior Research Engineer Cum Head, Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab
Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. (email: rajanaggarwal1@gmail.com)

Abstract
Rapid expansion of groundwater irrigation, leading to significant increases in agricultural
productivity and rising incomes in the state of Punjab. Investment by farmer in wells and pumps
has driven this expansion on the demand side. One serious problem in the state has been
groundwater overdraft; where pumping exceeds aquifer recharge, water tables have declined and
water quality has deteriorated. To understand the rise in number of tubewells, a tubewell density
model was simulated. For analyzing the tubewell density status; zone wise maps of Central
Punjab by choropleth mapping method were generated and the variation of electric and diesal
tubewell densities with respect to each block was studied from 1998 to 2011. Groundwater is the
basic source of irrigation, domestic and industrial requirements worldwide. Due to rapid rise in
population and industries led to the problem of water table decline in most part of the state.
Electric and diesel pumpsets are two major source which increases the tube well density in
Central Punjab. Still many farmers from different areas of the state have applied for electrical
connection for installation of new tube wells. However, with low energy costs and readily
available connections, many farmers from different areas of the state have applied for electrical
connection for installation of new tube wells.
Keywords: Groundwater Irrigation, Overdraft, Pumpsets, Tubewell density, Water table.
1. Introduction
The cropping intensity of Central Punjab is one of the major factor for the increase of tubewell
density which causes problem of water table decline in most parts of the state. The major crops
grown in the state are rice, wheat and cotton into which the state contributing 20% of the wheat
and 11% of the rice production of India . There is drastic increase in area under rice crop till
2001. In Punjab, cropping pattern is also shifted from cotton to paddy (less water consuming to
more water consuming crop) due to drastic increase in area under the rice crop from 3.9 lakh
hectare in 1970 to 28.18 lakh hectare in 2011 (Anonymous 2012). This resulted in more
exploitation of groundwater and increment in number of tubewells. The number of tube wells has
increased from 1.92 lakh to 13.83 lakh for the period 1970 to 2011-12 (Anonymous 2012). The
increased number of tube wells increases the draft of groundwater which results in continuously
decline of water table. But no attempt has been made to know the change in tubewell densities in
central Punjab. So there is need to study the change in tubewell densities of both electric and
diesel pumpsets to control the more exploitation of groundwater.
2. Study Area
Punjab state is broadly divided into 6 Agro-Climatic Zones (ACZ). These six ACZ are further
grouped into 3 Main Groups are Sub Mountain Region (ACZ-I and II), Central Plain Region
(ACZ-III) and Southern-Western Region (ACZ-IV & V). The delineation of the study area is
based on the irrigation zones and is divided into four sub-zones UB-III, BD-III, SC-III and BMIII which partially comprise of the areas irrigated by Upper Bari Doab Canal, Bist Doab Canal,

Sirhind Canal and Bhakra Main Line Canal respectively and lies in ACZ-III as shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 1 Location map of the study area

3. Results and Discussions
3.1 Status of Tubewell density in Central Punjab
The spatial variation that took place over fourteen years from 1998 to 2011 in Central Punjab as
shown in Table 1.
Table1 Electric and Diesal Zone Wise Tubewell density change (Number/1000 ha) in
Central Punjab from 1998-2011
S.No

Zone

1998

2011

change

1998

2011

change

UB-III

195

260

65

18

16

-2

BD-III

259

322

63

36

54

18

SC-III

196

327

131

52

49

-3

BM-III

206

293

87

39

58

19

The electrical operated tube well increases continuously due to higher demand and diesel
operated tube well are decreasing due to falling water table trend and high operating cost. The
perusal of Fig. 3.1 (b) showed that in year from 1998 to 2012 the diesel operated tube wells
decreased and electrical operated tube wells increased with high rate almost in entire State.
3.1.1 Status of Electrical Tubewell density in Central Punjab
Amongst the four zones, BD-III had showed the highest electrical pumpset till 2009 and UB-III
had showed minimum electrical pumpset from 2001 to 2011. The pumpset in SC-III had sharply
increased and followed an exact linear trend from 2000-2011 as shown in Fig 2(a). SC-III and
BM-III witnessed a 67% and 42% increase in electrical pumpset density respectively during the
study period.
UB-III blocks namely Churian and Sri Hargobindpur, BD-III block Nakoder, SC-III blocks
namely Malerkotla, Samrala, Dhuri and BM-III blocks namely Khamano and Khera had showed
highest electrical pumpset density which is more than 450 in 2011.
3.1.2 Status of Diesal Tubewell density in Central Punjab
Amongst the four zones, UB-III had the lowest diesel pumpset density and SC-III showed
highest diesel pumpset density till 2006 and in the remaining years BM-III showed maximum
diesel pumpset. Overall UB-III and SC-III witnessed a 11% and 7% decrease in diesel pumpset
density respectively whereas BD-III and BM-III witnessed an increase of 49% and 46% diesel
pumpset respectively during the study period.
All zones had shown their peak values of diesel tubewell density in 2005. SC-III blocks namely
Jagraon, Moga and Lehlon had shown highest diesel pumpset density which is more than 151 in
2005.

350
330
310
290
270
ElectricUB-III
operated tubewells
BD-III
(Number/1000SC-III
ha) 250
230

BM-III

210
190
170

UB-III

BD-III

SC-III

BM-III

90
70
50
Diesel operated tubewells (Number/1000 ha)
30
10
-10

Fig. 2 Tubewell density of (a) electric and (b) diesel operated tubewells in four zones

(a) Electric operated tubewells

70

60

60

50

50
40
Per cent change

(b) Diesel operated tubwells

30

40
30

20

Per cent change 20

10

10

0
-10
-20

Fig. 3 Per cent change in (a) electric operated (b) diesel operated tubewells from 1998
2012 in four zones

Fig 4 Change in (a) Elecric operated (b) Diesal operated tubewells from 1998-2011 in four
zones.
Fig.4 represents the change in tubewell density that has taken place during 1998 to 2011. Three
categories have been made to show change in tubewell density both for electric and diesel
tubewells. There were continuous rise of electric tubewells in SC-III region as the water levels
their was deep due to drastic increase in area under rice crop after 2001. Zones BD-III and BMIII shows maximum diesel tubewell density change as ahown in Fig 4(b). With the improvement
in agricultural production technology and industrial growth, the demand of water has increased
manifold in the state of Punjab, causing over-exploitation of groundwater that has resulted in the
fast decline of water table, especially in the central part of the state. Also there was drastic
increase in area under rice crop in central Punjab which is resulted in more exploitation of
groundwater.
4. Conclusion
It can be concluded that increase in tubewell density in Central Punjab results in increase of
pumpage. A massive change in tubewell density has been recorded for all zones. Due to
extensive adoption of rice-wheat system, the number of tube wells has increased causing overexploitation of groundwater that has resulted in the fast decline of water table, especially in the
central part of the state. SC-III and BM-III are the most affected zones of central Punjab due to
drastic increase of area under rice crop with a percent change of electric tubewell densities 67
and 42 % respectively. The declination of groundwater not only depends on number of tube
wells, tube well draft but also depends on geological condition of that area. Attempts has been
made to know the tubewell densities of electric and diesel engines. So preventive measures will
be taken about the year wise increment in number of tubewells to control the more exploitation
of groundwater especially in southern zones. Punjab needs a concrete policy to tackle the
challenge of reducing burden on groundwater and make agriculture sustainable.
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