What is the primary reason for overexploitation of groundwater in Punjab and Haryana?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Cultivation of water-intensive crops like paddy
Explanation:
· The primary driver for severe groundwater depletion and overexploitation in the states of Punjab and Haryana is the large-scale cultivation of water-intensive crops, particularly paddy (rice) and, to a lesser extent, sugarcane.
· This is due to the policies of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and assured procurement for rice, which incentivize farmers to grow a crop unsuited to the semi-arid climate of the region.

· The high yield of these crops requires intensive irrigation, which is predominantly sourced from groundwater through free electricity for tube wells, leading to rapid drawdown of the water table.
Information Booster:
· Over 80% of the rice area in Punjab and Haryana is irrigated by groundwater.
· Both states fall under the category of 'Critical' or 'Over-exploited' groundwater assessment units, according to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
· Other contributing factors include the low efficiency of irrigation practices (like flood irrigation) and the density of tube wells.
Additional Knowledge:
· While sandy soils (d) are present, the major geological issue is the low recharge rate relative to the high extraction rate.
· The Green Revolution technologies, while boosting food grain production, also contributed to this unsustainable groundwater dependence.