Study Finds Only 30% of Panjab Suitable for Rice

A new study from Punjab Agricultural University warns that only 30% of Panjab’s land is truly suited for intensive rice cultivation. Yet, over 64% of the state’s geographical area remains under the crop, straining water and soil. The study, Agro-Eco-Resource Zonation for Sustainable Agriculture using Geographic Information Systems and Analytical Hierarchy Process Techniques in Indian Punjab, has been published in the Theoretical and Applied Climatology journal. Meanwhile, water quality tests in Muktsar found 33 out of 51 samples unfit for consumption, spotlighting failing Reverse Osmosis plants and eroding infrastructure. Residents in Abohar, Fazilka, and Muktsar also report foul-smelling canal water, fearing industrial waste may be to blame. In one breach, the Sukhchain Minor Canal flooded wheat fields while the crop was ripe for harvest. The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) 26 Mar order says only USD 84 million has been spent on liquid and solid waste management out of USD 241M directed to be ring-fenced for the purpose. Gaps in the disposal of legacy waste and incomplete remediation in urban local bodies persist, with the NGT demanding a fresh report detailing each municipality’s shortfalls. In another pivotal debate, spring maize sowing has surged from 30K hectares a decade ago to 180–190K hectares now, requiring up to 19 irrigations, deepening concerns about aquifer depletion. The state Agriculture Department, alarmed by the plunging water table, recently banned the long-duration Pusa-44 paddy variety to discourage its water-guzzling tendencies, instead promoting shorter-duration seeds like PR 126. As Panjab seeks to control overexploitation of groundwater, citing unspent money and questioning water-sharing decisions, it has confronted the Bhakra Beas Management Board refusing further funds until transparency is ensured. Experts believe immediate steps—balancing crop diversification, upgrading water infrastructure, and enforcing accountability—are essential to avert a deeper agricultural and ecological catastrophe (earlier coverage).