Groundwater Crisis Deepens in Jhajjar, Haryana – A Ticking Time Bomb for Farmers

Jhajjar, Haryana, May 8, 2026:

The groundwater levels in Jhajjar district are falling at an alarming rate, posing a serious threat to agriculture and drinking water supply. Several blocks in Jhajjar have been declared as over-exploited by the Central Ground Water Board.

Farmers in villages like Madana Kalan, Goria, Beri, and Kablana are now forced to dig borewells deeper than 300 to 400 feet, which has massively increased the cost of farming. Many small farmers are struggling to afford the high diesel and electricity expenses for irrigation.

Ramesh Kumar, a farmer from Madana Kalan, said, “Earlier we used to get water at 50-60 feet. Now even 350 feet is not enough. Farming is becoming impossible for small farmers like us.”

Major Causes:

• Excessive use of water for paddy-wheat rotation
• Unregulated borewell digging
• Low recharge of groundwater due to concretization
• Erratic rainfall pattern

Also Read: Unseasonal Hailstorm Devastates Wheat Crops in Jhajjar

Experts warn that if immediate steps are not taken, many areas of Jhajjar may face severe water scarcity in the coming years. The Haryana government has started promoting crop diversification and micro-irrigation, but implementation is slow on the ground.

Local administration has appealed to farmers to adopt water-saving techniques like drip irrigation and laser land leveling. However, most farmers demand stricter regulation on new borewells and better subsidy support for sustainable farming.

This growing groundwater crisis, combined with frequent unseasonal weather events, is making the future of farming in Jhajjar highly uncertain.