Lok Sabha Question No. 366 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-17
Subject: Conservation of Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 366

ANSWERED ON 17.11.2016

## CONSERVATION OF WATER

## 366. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to preserve the water resources so as to provide perennial drinking water sources, if so, the details thereof along with the action taken so as to ensure the availability of water both for irrigation and drinking purpose during the drought situation in the country;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the decrease in rainfall and its effect on availability of water, if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  new  schemes  for  water  conservation  to  tackle  the situation; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  Water  being  a  State  subject,  several  steps  are  taken  by  the  concerned  State  Governments  for preserving the water resources which inter-alia include conservation of water resources in reservoirs and traditional water bodies, rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge of groundwater. Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation provides technical and financial assistance to the State  Governments  through  various  schemes  and  programmes  namely:  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY); Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP); scheme for Repair, Renovation and  Restoration  (RRR)  of  water  bodies  etc.  In  addition,  several  measures  have  been  taken  up  by  the Central Government to replenish ground water in the country.

- The National Water Policy (2012) formulated by Ministry of Water Resources, RD &GR , interalia,  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.
- 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 line of Model bill.
- CGWB has also  prepared a conceptual document entitled 'Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India' during the year 2013, involving ground water scientists/ experts.

The  Master  Plan  envisaging  construction  of  1.11  crore  Rainwater  Harvesting  and  Artificial Recharge structures in the country at an estimated cost of Rs.79,178 Crores to harness 85 BCM (billion  Cubic  Meters)  of  water.    The  augmented  ground  water  resources  will  enhance  the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes.  The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.

- 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.
- Besides , Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has issued advisories to the  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.
- CGWB has been organizing mass awareness programmes in the country to promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.

(b) No specific study regarding decrease in rainfall and its effect on availability of water has been carried out.  The Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors live storage status of 91 reservoirs of the country on a weekly basis and  issues weekly bulletin on every Thursday.  A comparison of Region wise Storage Status of Major reservoirs at the end of monsoon season (September end) during  last three years shows that due to reduced rainfall the storage in 2015 was much less than that of 2014 in all the regions except in the northern region. During 2016,  the storage is much less than 2014 in the south and north; it has improved in the central region while it remains almost the same in eastern and western regions.

(c ) & (d)   Government of India has launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchaiYojana (PMKSY) with the vision  of  extending  the  coverage  of  irrigation  'Har  Khet  ko  Pani'  and  improving  water  use  efficiency 'More  crop  per  drop'  in  a  focused  manner  with  end  to  end  solution  on  source  creation,  distribution, management, field application and extension activities.  Under the scheme, it is proposed to complete 99 ongoing AIBP schemes under PMKSY, to create an irrigation potential of 7.6 millino ha. at a cost of Rs. 77,595 crores through NABARD funding.

The 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.

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