Water pollution in Punjab a study of state response with special reference to groundwater pollution in Muktsar district

Abstract

Water is a very precious resource and is most essential for the survival of life on earth. After air, it is the most important need of all living creatures on our planet earth. Water forms about 75% of the earth, but fresh water is only about 2.5 per cent present in our rivers, groundwater, snow, and ice, and the remaining is sea/salt water. The present study i.e. Water Pollution in Punjab: A Study of State Response with special reference to Groundwater Pollution in Muktsar District was carried out to study the various causes responsible for groundwater pollution in the district of Muktsar and their effects on farm production and health of the local inhabitants, policies and programmes of the government undertaken by the government to control the groundwater pollution and their implementation, the organizational structure of the departments involved in the management of groundwater and analyze their role, and role of panchayats and the local community in controlling groundwater pollution. The study was based on primary and secondary data. Primary data from officials, citizens, farmers and Panchayat members was collected from all four blocks of Muktsar district with the help of questionnaires and interview schedules. A total sample size of 320 (20 officials, 120 farmers, 120 citizens and 60 panches) was used. The primary data so collected was processed by coding, classification and tabulation. The processed data was analyzed using statistical techniques like percentage, chi-square, fisher exact test and p-value along with the graphical representation through pie charts and bar graphs. The results of the study revealed that there are various causes such as waterlogging, salinity and chemical pollution which have deteriorated the quality of groundwater in the district over the years. The panchayats and local community were found to be not playing their part. Further, the study also provided several suggestions which can work towards the betterment of the situation. newline