Lok Sabha Question No. 1256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Assessment of Groundwater Resources
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1256 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2017

## ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

## 1256.          SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  assesses  the  groundwater  resources  periodically  and  has  made  any assessment of the same in the country recently and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(b) the mechanism put in place for such periodic assessment;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any special programme for the purpose after the assessment and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to fulfil the future ground water need in the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) Central Ground Water Board carries out periodic assessment of replenishable ground water resources of  the  Country jointly with the State Government Departments. As per the latest assessment(2011), the total  annual  replenishable  ground  water  resource  of  the  Country  is  around  433  Billion  Cubic  Metres (BCM).  The  net  annual  ground  water  availability  is  398  BCM  out  of  which  annual  ground  water utilization (draft) for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes is estimated as 245 BCM and stage of ground water development is 62%.

(b)    The  assessment  is  carried  out  based  on  methodology  recommended  by  Ground  Water  Estimation Committee  1997  (GEC-97)  under  the  supervision  of  State  Level  Committee  on  Ground  Water Assessment. The National level compilation is carried out under the over-all supervision of Central Level Expert Group. The report is finally approved by MoWR, RD & GR.

(c)   Programmes being undertaken by the Government include -

- CGWB has taken up aquifer mapping and management pogramme during XII plan, under the scheme of  ground water management and regulation.  Objectives of the programme include delineation of aquifers, characterization of the aquifers and preparation of management plans to ensure sustainability of ground water resources. So far, out of the total 23 lakh sq km of mappable area in the country, aquifer maps and management plans have been developed for an area of 5.20 lakh sq km.
- 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. 'Jal Gram Yojana' component of

'Jal Kranti Abhiyan' envisages selection of two villages in every district, preferably 'over-exploited' or facing acute water scarcity, as 'Jal Grams' to ensure optimum and sustainable utilization of water.

- (d)   Steps taken by the Government to fulfill future water needs 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 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 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.
- 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    882325  farm  ponds  in  the  year  2016-17  to harvest rain water.
- 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 byelaws 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.

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