Lok Sabha Question No. 131 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-02
Subject: Depletion in Ground Water Level
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 131

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

## DEPLETION IN GROUND WATER LEVEL

## 131. SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has analysed the reasons for depletion of ground water in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any research study has been conducted by various institutes in the country particularly Gandhinagar recently in regard to deepening of ground water level to alarming situation, if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the remedial steps taken/to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER  OF STATE    FOR WATER RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(DR.  SANJEEV KUMAR  BALYAN)

(a)   Growing urbanization, industrialization and population, amongst others, have  resulted into declining ground water levels in various parts of the Country.  Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) carries out ground water monitoring, four times a year, on regional scale through a network of observation wells in the Country.  Water level data for pre-monsoon 2016 compared with decadal mean of pre-monsoon (2006-2015) indicates decline in ground  water level in 66% of the wells monitored.

(b)  Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR provides financial assistance to promote research work in the field of water resources under Research & Development Programme in water sector during XII Plan.   At present, one R&D study on 'Estimation of Aquifer Potential in Jharia Coal Mining Region with suitable techniques to improve the recharge' is being done by Indian School Of Mines, Dhanbad.

(c)  Remedial steps taken up by the Central Government to control depletion of ground water level in the Country, interalia, include :

- The  National  Water  Policy  (2012)  formulated  by  Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  RD  &  GR,  inter-alia, advocates  conservation,  promotion  and  protection  of  water  and  highlights  the  need  for  augmenting  the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures. The  National  Water  Policy  (2012)  has  been  forwarded  to  all  State  Governments/  UTs  and  concerned Ministries/ Departments of Central Government for adoption.
- CGWB has also prepared a conceptual document entitled 'Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water  in  India'  during  2013,  involving  ground  water  scientists/experts.  The  Master  Plan  envisages construction  of  1.11  crore  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial  recharge  structures  in  the  Country  at  an estimated cost of Rs.79,178 crores to harness 85 BCM (Billion Cubic Metre) of water. The augmented

ground  water  resources  will  enhance  the  availability  of  water  for  drinking,  domestic,  industrial  and irrigation purpose. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for adoption.

- Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under 'The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986'  for  the  purpose  of  regulation  and  control  of  ground  water  development  and  management  in  the Country.  So far, CGWA has notified 162 areas in the Country for the purpose of regulation of ground water.  Under the CGWA guidelines, in notified areas, no permission is accorded to extract ground water through any energized means for any purpose other than drinking water.  However, for non-notified areas, ground water withdrawal by industries is regulated by means of guidelines/criteria as specified as CGWA.
- CGWA has issued advisories to States and UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground  water  /  rain  water  harvesting.    30  States/UTs  have  made  rain  water  harvesting  mandatory  by enacting laws or by formulating rules & regulations or by including provisions in Building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
- This Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for its regulation and development which includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Model bill.
- Special focus is given through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water.  In addition, priority has been given for construction of farm ponds in the year 2016-17 to harvest rain water.
- The  Ministry  of  Drinking  Water  &  Sanitation  has  suggested  all  States  to  adopt  water  conservation measures like roof top rainwater harvesting, erecting sustainability structures for water conservation etc. For creating such sustainability structures, 10 % of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) funds are provided to the States.
- Department  of  Land  Resources  is  currently  implementing  8214  watershed  development  projects  in  28 States covering an area of about 39.07 million ha. under the Watershed Development Component (WDC) of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) principally for development of rainfed portions of net cultivated area and culturable wastelands.  The major activities taken up under the WDC-PMKSY, inter-alia,  include  ridge  area  treatment,  drainage  line  afforestation,  soil  and  moisture  conservation,  rain water harvesting,  horticulture, and pasture development etc.
- CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme during XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. The Aquifer Mapping is aimed to delineate aquifer disposition and their  characterization  for  preparation  of  aquifer/area  specific  ground  water  management  plans,  with community participation.
- MoWR, RD & GR has also launched 'Jal Kranti Abhiyan' (2015-16 to 2017-18) in order to consolidate water conservation and management in the Country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement.
- CGWB has been organizing mass awareness programmes in the Country to promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water; more than 17 lakh children participated in a nation-wide painting competition in the last year to promote conservation of water.

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