What factors are responsible for the highest groundwater development in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu?
The states of Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu have the highest groundwater development due to several key factors.
First, a large proportion of net sown area is under irrigation. In Punjab and Haryana, more than 85 per cent of the net sown area is irrigated, with wheat and rice being grown mainly with the help of irrigation.
Second, there is heavy reliance on wells and tubewells for irrigation. Of the total net irrigated area, 76.1 per cent in Punjab and 51.3 per cent in Haryana are irrigated through wells and tubewells. This indicates extensive groundwater utilisation. Additionally, agriculture accounts for 92 per cent of groundwater utilisation, and development of irrigation has been assigned high priority in Five Year Plans to increase agricultural production.
Explanation
The textbook clearly states that Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu have very high groundwater utilisation. The factors include: (1) more than 85% of net sown area under irrigation, (2) wheat and rice cultivation requiring irrigation, (3) high dependence on wells and tubewells (76.1% in Punjab, 51.3% in Haryana), and (4) agriculture's dominance in groundwater use at 92%. The context also mentions that irrigation development was given high priority in Five Year Plans.