Even as the Punjab government is patting its back and claiming to provide water to tail-end users by giving a nod to the 14-point action plan to preserve and replenish groundwater, it has turned out that tubewells in Pakistan may be pumping out the subsurface water, thereby failing the efforts intended at stopping the decline in water table.The concern was raised during an international symposium on “Advances in Ecologically Sustainable Rice Cultivation and National Food Security: Unlocking the Potential of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) in Punjab”.Experts have called for a comprehensive study on trans-border aquifers to assess groundwater extraction and evolve strategies to curb its overuse in agriculture and industry.Gopal Krishan, a scientist at the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, said such a study should include neighbouring districts of Pakistan as well as Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, as groundwater systems transcend political boundaries.“Groundwater has no boundaries,” he said, adding that ongoing studies conducted in Amritsar indicate that subsurface water flow moves from India towards Pakistan.Krishan, who is part of a team studying wells in border areas of Amritsar, cautioned that if neighbouring regions do not adopt similar water conservation measures it could undermine efforts being made in India to reduce groundwater depletion.He stressed the need for coordinated policies and data-sharing mechanisms to ensure sustainable groundwater management across regions.“There are two kinds of water sources. One which could be seen, like river, canal and ponds. But there is another source of water which cannot be seen. Isotope hydrology helps us understand the life story of water and helps us comprehend the links between different water resources, particularly precious groundwater,” said Gopal, while demanding a comprehensive study water being used by industry.As per the state government, water table in Punjab had been declining at an annual rate of 0.7 metre due to extraction of 5.2 billion cubic metres of the groundwater per year.As per the official data, 115 of 153 water blocks in Punjab are overexploited. “However, 17 blocks managed to reverse the trend of the falling water table between 2022 and 2025. Eight of these blocks also achieved a balance between extraction and recharge,” said Gopal.Dr Sukhpal, chairman of Punjab State Farmer and Farm Workers’ Commission, also seconded the trans-border study of aquifers.Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal has said diversification cannot be possible till the time guaranteed MSP is not offered of other crops. “The area under rice is not going to come down and we need to find out the ways and means to save water,” stressed Dr Gosal.