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Water is the
most precious gift of the nature and is essential for sustenance of life, next
only to air. It is one of most important component, which influences economic,
agricultural and industrial growth of mankind.
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Of all
water on earth, 97.5% is salt water, and of the remaining 2.5% fresh water,
some 70% is frozen in the polar icecaps. The other 30% is mostly present as
soil moisture or lies in underground aquifers. In the end, less than 1% of
the world's fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily
accessible for direct human uses
(www.who.int).
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India
has only 4.2 percent of world’s fresh water resources to sustain 16 and
17 percent of world’s human and animal populations, respectively
(GOI, PC,
2007-2012).
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From a
per capita annual average of 5,177 cubic meter in 1951, fresh water
availability in India dropped to 1,820 cubic meter in 2001. In fact, it is
predicted that by 2025, per capita annual average fresh water availability
will be 1,340 cubic meter approximately (www.cseindia.org).
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Per
capita availability of water less than 1700m3 is considered as ‘stress’
level beyond which water availability gets classified as scarcity level.
Below this level, availability of water is considered a severe constraint on
economic development and environment quality
(GOI,
PC, 2007-2012).
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Punjab
is endowed with rich water resources. Punjab was fortunate in having five
perennial rivers. But after partition in 1947, Punjab was left with three
perennial rivers, Ravi, Beas and Sutluj and one seasonal river Ghaggar.
Besides this, three internationally important wetlands, two nationally
important wetlands, several state wetlands, canals and drains, ponds and
reservoirs exist in the state.
Map of
Water Bodies of Punjab
(Click Here)
District-wise and type-wise distribution of Lentic Water Bodies
in Punjab
(Click Here)
References
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