Lok Sabha Question No. 113 (STARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Rainwater Harvesting
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *113

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2017

## RAINWATER HARVESTING

## *113.          SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM

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

- (a) whether about 80 per cent of water needs of the country is met from the ground water resources resulting  in  unprecedented  depletion  of  ground  water  table  and  40  per  cent  of  cultivable  area  is dependent on irrigation and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether 81 per cent of irrigational potential has already been exploited under various schemes and  the  scope  of  further  expansion  of  irrigational  infrastructure  is  limited  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and

(c) the steps being planned by the Government for rainwater harvesting for irrigation of cultivable land?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION

(SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)

- (a) to  (c)   A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *113 TO BE ANSWERED  ON  09.02.2017 IN  LOK  SABHA  REGARDING 'RAINWATER  HARVESTING'  ASKED  BY  SHRI  VISHNU  DAYAL  RAM,  HON'BLE M.P:

(a)      Ground  water  meets  nearly  55%  of  irrigation  requirements  of  the  country  besides  meeting more than 85% of water requirement for domestic use in rural areas and over 50% for urban areas. Depletion  of  ground  water  is  attributed  to  excessive  withdrawal  of  ground  water  for  various purposes including irrigation, domestic and industries.

(b)    According  to  NITI  Aayog,  the  Ultimate  Irrigation  Potential  of  the  country  is  140  Million Hectare  out  of  which  irrigation  potential  to  the  tune  of  113  Million  hectare  has  already  been created. While the scope of further expansion of irrigational infrastructure is limited, there is a need to  bridge  the  gap  between  Irrigation  Potential  Created  and  Irrigation  Potential  Utilised.  The Government  of  India  has  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  which,  inter-alia, focuses to bridge this gap and on improving water use efficiency at farm level.

(c)  The steps being taken by the Government for rain water harvesting are as follows:

- 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 implementation.
- The Department of Rural Development has prioritized work related with Natural Resources Management  (including  water  harvesting)  under  MGNREGA  and  has  issued  a  joint framework  with  the  Ministry  of  Water  Resources  and  Department  of  Land  Resources. Further, MoRD has taken up an extensive programme for construction of farm ponds; 882325 farm ponds are being constructed under MGNREGA during the current year.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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