Changing Patterns of Ground Water Level in Fatehabad District of Haryana, India

Ground water is the world largest freshwater resource used in agriculture for irrigation. Ground water level in paddy cultivating region in Haryana is depleting very fast, threatening the future of agriculture productivity in one of the largest farming state in India. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in ground water level in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, India. Rapid increase in area under rice-cultivation, electric sets for pumping deep water and decrease in cultivation of less water requirement crops like pearl millet are the possible reasons behind rapid decline of ground water. In the present paper different factors like ground water level, area under rice cultivation, fertilizers consumption pattern and electric set were studied for the period between 2005 to 2013 in the Fatehabad district. The area under rice cultivation has increased from 31.67 to 40.36% with increased number of electric sets from 18542 to 31163 in 2005-06 to 2012-13, respectively. Area under pearl millet cultivation has also declined to 22.6 % in 2012-13 as compared to 2005-06. The district showed the second largest decline of 17.19 meters after district Mohindergarh since June 1999 to June, 2014 in Haryana. Sustainable use of water and cultivation of crops having less water requirements and drip/sprinkler irrigation are recommended to check the decline of ground water in the district. Keywords: Ground Water Depletion, Rice Cultivation, Electric Set, Fatehabad, Haryan