Irrigation Development and Over-Exploitation of Groundwater Resources in Haryana: A Geographical Analysis

Water is an essential input for sustainable development of an agricultural sector. Haryana has made remarkable progress in the field of irrigation mainly after 1966-67 due to increased demand of water for food production. The present research work based on secondary data has been conducted to highlight the various facets of Irritation Development from 1966-67 to 2014-15, and district-wise Groundwater Availability, Utilization, Level, Stage of Development and Over-Exploitation of Groundwater Resources in Haryana.For deriving rational results, suitable Statistical techniques have been applied for data processing. The development of irrigation has led to spectacular growth of agriculture in the Haryana state. But over reliance on groundwater has resulted in the depletion of groundwater level. Presently 64 (54 percent) blocks of the Haryana state are declared as dark blocks due to over- exploitation of groundwater resource. From 1999 to 2016 the depth of groundwater in state has reached double time at the decline rate about 55 cm per annum. Depleting groundwater resources is a burning issue of the state which demands immediate attention of the policy makers.