Chandigarh, August 24: Punjab officials have wrapped up the state’s evaluation under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti’s State Water Reforms Framework, moving into the final stage of assembling departmental budgetary data ahead of the August 31 submission deadline.
Launched in May, the framework assesses state-level performance across 75 binary indicators designed to address groundwater depletion, enhance service delivery, and streamline data integration.
Departmental heads affirmed that all 75 indicators have been evaluated and aligned with national benchmarks. Sukhjit Singh Bhullar, chief engineer of the Water Resources Department and state nodal officer, declared that the state has finalized everything and complied with the 75 indicators. He stated that the department is awaiting budgetary reports from select divisions before submitting the document to the Union ministry.
The central framework requires all participating states and Union Territories to implement key measurable reforms by December 31, 2026, and file formal compliance reports by January 31, 2027. The measures focus on promoting evidence-based governance in areas such as floodplain zoning, wastewater reuse, dam safety, and participatory irrigation.
To support these objectives, Punjab continues to execute its internal 14-point water strategy. The plan prioritizes improving surface water supply for irrigation in over-exploited blocks, expanding recharge wells in urban sectors, and restoring canal networks to reduce long-term reliance on groundwater.
