CU Punjab Organises SERB–DST Sponsored Workshop on Groundwater Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Bathinda, December 19, 2025: The Central University of Punjab (CU Punjab), Bathinda, through its School of Social Sciences and Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), organised a SERB–DST sponsored Training-cum-Workshop (Hybrid Mode) on “Groundwater Management for Irrigation in Agriculture” to address the pressing challenge of groundwater depletion and promote sustainable agricultural practices, especially in water-stressed regions like Punjab.

The workshop was held under the patronage of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari. The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Prof. Monisha Dhiman, Director, IQAC, CU Punjab. After this, Prof. Sandeep Kaur, Dean, School of Social Sciences and Project Principal Investigator, outlined the objectives of the workshop and highlighted the relevance of scientific groundwater management in ensuring agricultural sustainability, particularly in water-stressed regions like Punjab.

Renowned experts from leading national institutions shared their insights during the technical sessions. Dr. Pritpal Singh, Senior Scientist, PAU Farm Advisory Service Centre, Bathinda, deliberated on efficient irrigation practices and advisory-based interventions for optimising water use in agriculture. The workshop also featured expert lectures by Prof. Anuj Kumar, Principal Scientist, ICAR–IIWBR, Karnal; Dr. Sanjay T. Satpute, Senior Scientist, ICAR–IISWC, Research Centre, Ballari; and Dr. Rajesh Singh, Scientist ‘E’, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, who discussed scientific approaches, technological innovations, and data-driven strategies for effective groundwater management.

On this occasion, Er. Lupinder Kumar, Sub-Divisional Soil Conservation Officer, Jalandhar, delivered an in-depth presentation on “Water Challenges & Alternative Sources of Irrigation.” The experts highlighted the alarming groundwater depletion in Punjab due to excessive withdrawal through tube wells, the dominance of water-intensive cropping patterns, and the widening gap between irrigation water demand and availability. They also drew attention to the deterioration of groundwater quality caused by contaminants such as uranium, fluoride, and nitrates.

Emphasising the need for sustainable solutions, the distinguished speakers stressed the importance of rainwater harvesting under the ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative, reuse of treated sewage water for irrigation, utilisation of village pond water, watershed development projects, underground pipeline systems, and micro-irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems. They underscored the critical role of community participation and technological adoption in ensuring long-term water security.

Towards the end, Dean Incharge Academics Prof. Ramakrishna Wusirika offered special remarks, emphasising the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among academia, policymakers, and field practitioners to effectively address the groundwater crisis.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Sunil Mittal, acknowledging the contribution of the resource persons, organisers, and participants. The workshop witnessed active participation from faculty members, researchers, students, and agricultural practitioners, making it a meaningful platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building.  The faculty from the various colleges, students and farmers have also participated in offline mode also.