the groundwater situation in the foothills of the Kangra valley, especially in Nurpur and Jawali subdivisions, is quite grim today. There are no water canals for irrigation in these areas. Fetching water from the rivulets passing by is also difficult. Hence, in the last few years, the underground water in these regions has been overexploited.

More than 1,200 tubewells have been installed by the irrigation, public health and agriculture and soil conservation departments. People are also digging tubewells on their own without any scientific or systematic techniques.

Y P Thakur, subdivisional soil conservation officer, says that careful planning of exploitation of groundwater and its recharging is required at the earliest. Although Himachal Pradesh has identified potential groundwater areas for scientific exploration, it is crucial that recharging is not downplayed. Experts also warn that the groundwater may recede if this trend continues.