Deficient rainfall in the state has led to a sharp decline in the water table. It may take years to make up for the loss by way of natural recharging, even if the monsoon is normal next year. In Punjab, 71 per cent of cultivated land is irrigated by tube wells and 23 per cent by canals. "Studies show that the water table has declined by 1-1.5 metre since June 1. Owing to scanty rains, farmers had to extract more and more ground water for irrigation," said Dr Rajesh Vashisht, Agriculture Department, Punjab. Statistics show the decline in the water table has been the maximum in Sangrur, Moga and Ludhiana districts. Though, the Doaba and kandi areas, located at the Shivalik foothills, received slightly more rainfall than Malwa , the decline in the water table remained high. "There has been no adverse impact on crops because of the drought-like situation. But Punjab has suffered a great loss in having exhausted its ground water," said an expert.