The groundwater reserves are depleting at an alarming rate in Punjab besides a serious decline in the quality of water at many places due to overuse of the available resources, says a study. Out of a total of 137 blocks covered under the study, only 25 have been found safe with 103 of them being overexploited, five being critical and four in a semi-critical state, says a study conducted by the Water Resources and Environment Directorate, Punjab Irrigation Department.

Members and activists of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) staged a dharna in front of the office of deputy chief engineer, Sangrur distribution circle of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), here today to compel the authorities to accept their demands, especially the release of the tube well connections under the OYT scheme without any delay. State finance secretary of the union Hardev Singh Sakrodi led the dharna.

Punjab's Malwa region, south of the Sutlej river, grabbed national attention a couple of years ago when its steeply rising cancer graph came to light. Studies had revealed the link between heavy