Amritsar, Mar 22: To check the rapid depletion of ground water, the District Administration of Amritsar has launched a campaign to educate the farmers, and also decided to take strict action against those farmers who would sow paddy before May 10.

District Magistrate of Amritsar Kahan Singh Pannu has prohibited sowing of paddy before May 10 and transplantation of paddy before June 10, as it could lead to further depletion of the ground water.

Talking to ANI, Pannu informed that the district administration has also launched a campaign for educating the farmers about the ill effects of early sowing of the paddy.

Pannu added that few farmers did not heed to the advice of experts and were more interested in short term gains at the cost of destroying the environment and the natural resources.

All the eight development blocks of the district have been put in the category of over exploited blocks because of the fact that the water is used more than 100 per cent of net availability, he said.

Paddy is the main crop of Kharif season in Amritsar, which is grown in 1.78 lakh hectares out of the total net sown area of 2.22 lakh hectares.

According to a report finalised by the State Government in consultation with the Central Ground Water Board, the groundwater table in Amritsar is depleting at 48 cm. per year.

The main reason given for the depletion of the groundwater is sowing of paddy during the month of May and June. (ANI)