Storing water is a critical part of water security, and the societal response to hydrological variability. Water storage increases the amount of water available for human, environmental, and economic use, reduces the impact of floods, and provides a variety of ancillary services such as hydropower and navigation by regulating water flows.

The Government of Punjab on January 27, 2023, issued the Punjab Ground Water Extraction and Conservation Directions, 2023 under powers conferred under Section 15 (2) of the Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act, 2020. These shall extend to the whole of the State of Punjab.