Punjab groundwater depletion deepens social and economic inequality, study finds

A study reports that 76.47% of Punjab's groundwater blocks are over-exploited, the highest among Indian states, driven by water-intensive wheat and rice cultivation. This depletion raises well-drilling costs, causes land subsidence, and worsens water quality, disproportionately affecting poorer farmers and widening social divides. The finding underscores a structural environmental stressor with economic and political implications for India's agricultural heartland.