How is water depleted through agricultural activity?
Water is depleted through agricultural activity primarily due to intensive agriculture which creates growing demands for water. Aquifers that have accumulated water over hundreds and thousands of years are being emptied in just a few decades to meet agricultural needs.
This rapid decline in groundwater levels is an acute problem across India, especially in states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Farmers growing crops like cotton require irrigation, and high levels of extraction have depleted water reserves, forcing them to drill deeper for water.
Explanation
The textbook context clearly links agricultural activity to water depletion through multiple references: 'growing demands of intensive agriculture', aquifers being 'emptied in matter of a few decades', and the specific mention of cotton farmers needing irrigation leading to depleted water reserves. The answer captures these key points within the 2-mark word limit of 80-120 words.