Punjab has an exceptionally pervasive environmental crisis which can be seen in acute form even in relatively remote villages. In future the big steps towards enhancing welfare and sustainable well-being of people must be based in environmental protection and regeneration. What is more, the understanding of environmental protection must be people based, so that environmental protection is closely related to protection and strengthening of creative livelihoods, while elitist and alienating interpretations of environmentalism must be avoided. 

If taken up in the proper pro-people context, environmental protection can receive powerful support from the deeply rooted and rich cultural ethos of Punjab as well as the great legacy of its many great persons, right from the great gurus to the great freedom fighters. Such a social-cultural awakening, with its roots in justice, equality, harmony and democracy, can provide such great opportunities for the outpouring of creativity that social frustration, lack of direction and the harmful addictions related to this can become a thing of the past. 

Several regions of the world including India have suffered from environmental deterioration in recent decades. However what makes the situation in Punjab something special and more serious is the status of this state of India as the one which was the earliest to adopt the green revelation technology (with its emphasis on growing vast monocultures with huge inputs of agro-chemicals) and maintained a leadership role in it. Hence the adverse impacts on soil, water and health related to this technology have been experienced more in Punjab. This is in addition to the more common pattern of environmental pollution including air and water pollution and loss of biodiversity in India.

Hence in the case of Punjab vehicular, industrial and dust-related air pollution is enhanced further by stubble burning and hence gets aggravated at regular even in remote villages as well. The problem of water scarcity and contamination is aggravated by the excessive rapid depletion of groundwater and its contamination by agro-chemicals. Soil too is devastated by unbalanced and excessive use of agro-chemicals as well as by heavy machinery. Bio-diversity loss is huge not just in the context of loss of traditional crops and seeds well-adapted to local conditions, but also in the context of loss of such selfless servers of humanity as earthworms, other soil organisms and various pollinators particularly bees. By reaching the remotest villages, which have very little greenery and water or moisture conservation efforts and sources, the environmental crisis becomes very widely pervasive and overwhelming in Punjab. Hence it is important to realize that any effort to improve welfare on sustainable basis must have a very strong component of environment protection and regeneration.

The environment report (2007) brought out by the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology has brought together many dimensions of this crisis,

“Over-intensification of agriculture over the years has led to water depletion, reduced soil fertility and micronutrient deficiency, non-judicious use of farm chemicals & problems of pesticide residue, reduced genetic diversity, soil erosion, atmospheric and water pollution and overall degradation of the rather fragile agro ecosystem of the state. …In an effort to produce more grain the state has been overexploiting its land and water resources by changing traditional cropping patterns and resorting to high input agriculture (instead of low input, ecologically friendly farming practices) with higher demands of water, nutrients, energy, etc. By lowering cultivation of legumes and switching over from organic to chemical fertilizers, the soil is deprived of natural replenishment of both, micro and macro nutrients leading to lowering of its productive potential. Lack of fallowing period (due to increased cropping intensity) also deprives soil from rejuvenating itself. Further, resorting to high water requiring crops has put undue pressure on the state’s surface and ground water resources, the effects of which are increasingly being felt and warrant immediate action for mitigation”.

Punjab’s Environment Report (PER) places special emphasis on the many sided degradation of soil.

“With nutrient deficiency, loss of fertility and decline in organic matter soil quality has become a serious challenge in the agriculture sector of Punjab…The policy of subsidy on fertilizers encourages the farmers for excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers with relative under-utilization of other fertilizers and micronutrients. Unbalanced fertilizer use does not lead to immediately visible harmful effects but it adversely affects soil quality over time. Moreover, the injudicious use of fertilizers can practically cause all forms of pollution i.e. of soil, air and water. The soil pollution load further increases due to their reaction products and residues. Some of the reaction products such as nitrates and phosphates find their way to surface waters and aquifers. The enrichment of surface waters with these nutrients by runoff from agriculture fields and by leaching causes eutrophication…Moreover, partial factor productivity of NPK in Punjab has also dropped from 80.9 in 1966-67 to 16.0 in 2003-04. Hence, farmers in the state have been applying higher and higher doses of major nutrients, especially nitrogen for sustaining adequate production level…Organic carbon content has been reduced to very low and inadequate levels in the state, because of very low or limited application of organic manures and non-recycling of crop residues. Analysis of more than 180 thousand soil samples at PAU, Ludhiana during 1981-1992 reported that 78% soils of Punjab were low (<0.4% SOC) in organic carbon, 21 % medium (0.4%-0.75% SOC) and 0.5% high (>0.75% SOC) in soil organic carbon. The districts of Bathinda, Faridkot, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar had more than 80% samples in low categories”.

Data analysis by the Punjab Agriculture University reveal that within a very short period 1981-86 to 1996-2001 the number of soil samples in low Phosphorous (P) increased from 45 per cent to 71 per cent. The exploitive green revolution technology has rapidly depleted several precious micronutrients. A survey conducted in 1990 by PAU revealed that 49 per cent of soils in Punjab were deficient in Zinc. Burning of wheat and rice straw has also contributed to loss of soil fertility apart from causing air pollution. According to estimates this leads to a huge loss of NPK from soil. Higher than justified levels of chemical inputs as well as farm machinery have raised cost of farming while also inflicting massive damage on agro-ecology particularly soil health. The consumption of chemical fertilizer increased more than 8 times in 35 years from 213 nutrient thousand tons in 1970-71 to 1694 nutrient thousand tons in 2005- 06. Punjab consumes about 17 percent of total pesticides used in India. Excessive use of tractors also damages soil, particularly where puddling is done for rice cultivation. Soil compaction by agricultural machinery is also harmful for fertility and stability of soil. Use of harvester combines leaves uncut straw and stubble in the fields, which is often burnt, causing air pollution apart from declining soil fertility (PER).

The groundwater assessment in November 2022, as reported in The Times of India, revealed that Punjab is extracting 166% of its extractable groundwater resources with 76% of its blocks turning overexploited. This report mentions that when rice is grown in conditions not naturally suited to its growth here, 5000 litres may be pumped out to get 1 kg. of rice. According to another report in the Economic Times, in year 2020 133 blocks out of 150 were overexploited, 6 of these being critical, while only 17 were in the safe zone. 

However the situation was serious even in 2007 when PER stated —

“all the blocks of various districts like Amritsar(16 blocks), Jalandhar (10 blocks), Moga (5 blocks), Kapurthala (5 blocks), Sangrur (12 blocks), Fathegarh Sahib (5 blocks), Patiala (8 out of 9 blocks) and Ludhiana ( 9 out of 10 blocks) have been found to be over-exploited leading to sharp depletion of the water table in these districts…Whereas on an average the water table has receded at an annual rate of 55 cm across the state (between1993-2003), however, the central districts (like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Patiala, etc.) recorded a fall of 75 cm. Further, districts like, Moga, Sangrur, Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Kapurthala, are the worst hit as the water table depletion beyond 10 m increased from 3 percent area in 1973 to 95 percent area in 2005. Furthermore, it is predicted that in about 66 percent area of the central districts the depth of water table would recede to 50 m by the year 2030.” 

Apart from depletion of ground water there are also reports of pollution of ground water as well as surface water sources. Heavy use of agro chemicals has led to ground water being contaminated by these. In addition, ground water contamination is also caused by industrial chemicals and effluents. Surface water pollution is no less serious. In October 2013 a review in The Tribune concluded,

“The Sutlej continues to be a major victim, Ghaggar is a repository of chemical wastes, as toxins are dunked into the subsoil water at various places. The result is stark– most rivers and choes remain polluted.”

Pollution of water has been linked not just to skin diseases but also to cancer.

“Intake of polluted water is said to be the main cause behind rising number of cancer cases in many areas…Tumour and cancer cases, besides stomach, eye, skin and respiration problems are common among residents of Jalandhar villages that fall in the vicinity of Kala Sanghian Drain.”

In Mahal village of Amritsar district at least 8 persons died because of contaminated water in 1994. Other villagers have complained of birth deformities in their children.

“The PGIMER research wing has warned that areas along the Tung Dhab drain may see children born with congenital diseases. The Guru Nanak Dev University’s chemistry department carried out clinical experiments on 11 vegetables grown along the drain. It found a high quantity of heavy metals much beyond the permissible level in each of these. The Genetics Department of the university found that women living in areas close to the Tung drain, such as Mahal village, are susceptible to DNA damage which could lead to cause premature ageing and cancer.” (report by G.S.Paul in The Tribune, 2013) 

Another report on the shocking pollution levels of Buddha Nullah and its impact on people in Ludhiana district stated,

“A study conducted by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has found traces of heavy metals in vegetables and crops grown in fields near to the drain. As the nullah emanates unbearable stench, people living around the drain are prone to various diseases, including those affecting the respiratory system. Water-borne diseases like hepatitis, diarrhea and typhoid too are common. Instances of skin diseases and even cancer have been found. Another PAU study had found dangerous pathogens, including faecal coliform, listeria, yersinia and klebsiella, which cause various gastrointestinal diseases, in high concentration in the Budha Nullah water. The presence of these pathogens in fruits and vegetables grown near the drain is most worrisome.” (G. Singh’s report in The Tribune, 2013)

A report on several villages around Ghaggar river in Patiala district says,

“Lacking treatment plants, several civic bodies in areas situated upstream the Ghaggar release waste into the river before it enters Patiala district. Emerging from Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh, the river carries pollutants from the hill state as well as from Haryana before it enters Punjab. The rising pollution has been a bone of contention between the three states, with Punjab blaming its neighbours for the menace. But ironically, Punjab’s own industry too has been discharging effluents into the river. Diseases like cancer and hepatitis have become common among the residents here. Almost every third house in Samana, Ghanaur and Patran has lost a member, or has a patient, to some type of cancer, say villagers.” (report by A. Sood in The Tribune, 2013).

Alarming reports have appeared about the presence of uranium and arsenic in Punjab’s ground water. As The Hindu reported,

“ever since some environmentalist raised the issue, water from 2462 tubewells was collected from across Punjab. Of the 1642 results available so far, at least 1142 tested positive for presence of uranium. While most of the water was from the cotton belt in the south-western districts of the Malwa region of Punjab, Gurdaspur from the Majha belt reported the presence of arsenic in ground water.” (2012).

Another report on this issue in The Tribune on Bhatinda district stated,

“low to very high traces of uranium were detected in water samples taken from tubewells in 43 villages in Bhagta Bhai Ke, Mour, Nathana, Phul and Rampura blocks of the district. The samples, taken by a government lab, were analysed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai. High cases of cancer have already been reported from these villages… Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had recently stated in Mohali that groundwater contamination in Punjab was 50 per cent more than the WHO standards. The BARC report, however, reveals that the contamination is many times more than that.” (2012). 

The Times of India has reported very recently, (September 1 2024),

“High levels of arsenic, uranium, iron and nitrate have contaminated groundwater in the Amritsar and Taran Taran areas of Punjab’s Majha region. The joint research of Pondicherry’s University’s earth sciences department and Fatehgarh Sahib’s World University has revealed alarming indicators for public health. . . The research has concluded that arsenic and nitrate doses in groundwater (among various studied areas) are the highest in Amritsar, so the risk to this district’s population is also the gravest.”   

Last 50 years or so have witnessed perhaps the worst ever loss of biodiversity in the history of Punjab going back to thousands of years. Agricultural fields have been reduced to monocultures of a few crops with a very narrow genetic base while a huge variety of traditional seeds and crop varieties incorporating the wisdom and efforts of several generations of farmers have been displaced from fields and in the absence of any large scale efforts to preserve them this invaluable heritage may be lost forever (except perhaps in gene banks which are often more controlled by corporate interests). Precious traditional knowledge is no longer passed from one generation to another. Due to the spread of poisonous agro chemicals, a ‘silent spring’ has dawned in Punjab in which the sweet chirping of birds is becoming more and more rare. Whether it is the friendly sparrow or highly useful pollinating birds and insects, a huge decline can be seen in Punjab. Aquatic life has suffered to an alarming extent in rivers and ponds. The oldest friends of farmers- bullocks –can hardly be seen now in villages. Indigenous breeds of most farm animals have suffered heavily. Much of this loss could have been avoided. 

PER has summarized some aspects of this tragic and avoidable loss of biodiversity in Punjab.

“Considerable varietal changes have taken place since the introduction of green revolution in the state. The introduction of new High Yielding Varieties has led to loss of natural varieties and diversity of the indigenous agricultural system (which had contributed to ecological stability and ecosystem productivity) due to shift from multiple cropping pattern to monoculture. Modern varieties are the outcome of scientific breeding and characterised by a high yield and a high degree of genetic uniformity. In contrast, farmer’s varieties (landraces) are the product of breeding or selection carried out by farmers and represent higher levels of genetic diversity…Prior to the green revolution, 41 varieties of wheat, 37 varieties of rice, four varieties of maize, three varieties of bajra, 16 varieties of sugarcane, 19 species/varieties of pulses, nine species/varieties of oil seeds and 10 varieties of cotton were reported to be in use in Punjab and propagated through pure line selection by various workers. However, the number of varieties in use by farmers has decreased since then.”

Further this report says regarding farm and dairy animals,

“Data indicates that the total livestock in the state has decreased from 9.85 million to 8.60 million during the inter-census period of 1997 to 2003 and shown an overall decrease of 12.7%. The crossbred cattle has decreased by 16.3% (from 1.828 million in 1997 to 1.53 million in 2003) and indigenous cattle decreased by 37.3% (0.80 million in 1997 to 0.57 million in 2003). Thus an overall decrease of 22.7% has been recorded in total cattle population between 1997 and 2003 (Source: Department of Animal Husbandry, Punjab). The buffalo population has also shown a decline of 2.9% during the period. The population of sheep, goats and pigs has also decreased by 49.5%, 32.9% and 69.8% respectively…Only one Desi breed of cow has been reported by the Animal Husbandry Deptt in the state. However, the pure Desi breed is now not available in most of the districts (except the breed ‘Sahiwal’ which is still reported in certain areas of districts Bathinda, Mansa, and Moga) as it has been cross bred with Jersey and Holstein breeds (exotic) in an effort to increase the fat and milk content respectively.”

PER adds regarding village water sources,

“The village ponds commonly known as ‘chhapper’ or ‘tobas’, which once used to be the centre of thriving rural environment have been disappearing fast throughout the state. Presently most of the village ponds in the state have either silted or are filled up, encroached upon or being used for disposing village sewerage. The sewerage dumped in ponds has been further polluting the groundwater in their surrounding areas. Further, the filling of village ponds have reduced the natural recharging of underground aquifers in the state. According to an estimate, more than 90 percent of the state’s ponds have been encroached upon”.

Is it not shocking that despite the urgency of water conservation and water recharge, most village ponds have been lost and 90% have suffered from encroachments? This is just one aspect of the many-sided environmental ruin and degradation that has been taking place without attracting much attention and concern. This must change and in future Punjab’s development planning must be based very strongly in ecological regeneration and environment protection, linked to strengthening sustainable livelihood and emphasizing aspects like biodiversity protection and increasing green cover in the form of mixed indigenous species of trees in a big way, much more emphasis on spread of natural farming, water conservation and recharge, protecting water sources and rivers, protecting and conserving soil, reducing air pollution. Much of this will be helpful for climate change mitigation and adaption and this can also be an additional source for funding such a green program linked to creative and sustainable livelihoods. The government must provide adequate funds for supporting various such initiatives, and with improved planning much better use should be made of existing government schemes and programs for this, such as NREGA related works.

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Prof. Jagmohan Singh is Chairperson of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Centenary Foundation.

Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril and A Day in 2071. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.

Featured image is by P. Casier (CGIAR). Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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