Study of Spatial Variability of Groundwater Depth in Sirsa District of Western Agro Climatic Zone of Haryana

Abstract

Groundwater plays a vital role in agriculture and industry in various sectors across India, especially in Haryana’s Sirsa district, where groundwater plays a vital role. Approximately 50% of the irrigated land is dependent on groundwater, while 60% of the food production is dependent on groundwater. The depletion of groundwater in Haryana is a major concern due to population growth and increasing water demand, which is further aggravated by water-intensive crops. Even though Haryana accounts for 1.4 % of the country's geographical area, food production in Haryana contributes significantly to the nation's GDP. The study concentrates on Haryana, where groundwater plays a key role, especially in the Sirsa district, where the availability of surface water is limited. From 1974 to 2022, there is a worrying trend of decreasing groundwater levels in the Sirsa district in four blocks, which is mainly attributed to unregulated groundwater extraction, especially for agriculture, which results in ecological damage. Sustainable water management strategies need to be implemented in order to mitigate groundwater depletion and ensure long-term agri-sustainability and water security in Haryana. These strategies include changing cropping patterns, awareness campaigns, conjunctive water use, rainwater harvesting, and minimizing conveyance and application losses. By taking these steps, we have a chance to reduce groundwater depletion and ensure long-term agri-sustainability and overall water.