Lok Sabha Question No. 1596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Ban on New Borewells
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1596 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2017

## BAN ON NEW BOREWELLS

## 1596.        PROF. SAUGATA ROY

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

(a) the steps taken by the Government so far for rain water harvesting in the country;

(b) whether the Government intends to impose a blanket ban on new borewells to check the decreasing level of ground water in the country and if so, the details thereof ;

(c) whether any State has suggested such a proposal; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) Steps taken by the Government for rainwater harvesting in the country includes -

- Circulation  of  a  Model  Bill,  by  this  Ministry,  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.
- Central  Ground  Water  Board  (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.

- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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;  about  13  lakh  children  participated  in  a nation-wide painting competition in the last year to promote conservation of water.

(b) to (d) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under 'The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986' for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the  country,  has notified  162  areas  for  regulation  of  ground  water  development  and  management. 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 and domestic purposes.

As  per  the  provisions  of  the  Model  Bill  to  regulate  and  control  the  development  and management  of  ground  water,  2005,  the  State  Governments  may  establish  State  Ground  Water Authority through appropriate legislation. So far, 15 States/UTs are regulating ground water extraction by enacting suitable legislation.