Lok Sabha Question No. 6218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Shortage of Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: P. KUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 6218

## ANSWERED ON 05.0 4.201 8

## SHORTAGE OF WATER

## 6218. SHRI P. KUMAR

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

(a) whether World Bank has indicated that by 2030 India's per capita water availability may shrink to half and push the country into water scarce category from the existing water stress category;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken any new initiative/measures to overcome the existing water sh problems in many States and to be ready for future; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) & (b) The World Bank has informed that they have not conducted any independent analysis to current  or  projected  per  capita  water  availability  in  India  and  such  information  is  typi m reputable sources including Government of India and Food and Agriculture Organization.

The  average  annual  water  availability  of  any  region  or  country  is  largely  dependent -meteorological and geological factors and is generally constant. As per National Commission Water  Resources  Development  (NCIWRD)  report,  the  total water  availability  of  India  received  thr precipitation is about 4000 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) per annum. After evaporation, 1869 BC available as natural runoff. Due to geological and other factors, the utilizable water avail d to 1137 BCM per annum comprising 690 BCM of surface water and 447 BCM of replenishable ground wat

However, water available per person is dependent on population of the country and for availability per capita is reducing progressively due to increase in population. The average water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1820 cubic meters and 1545 cubic met respectively which may reduce further to 1340 and 1140 in the years 2025 and 2050 respecti per - capita water availability of less than 1700 cubic meters is considered as water stressed c ition, whereas annual per - capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is considered as a water scarcity to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation, the water availability of many regio much  below  the  nat ional  average  and  can  be  considered  as  water  stressed  /  water  scarce.  Fu projected that in the year 2050, the country's total water demand is estimated at 1180 BCM, outstripping the total availability of 1137 BCM.

(c) & (d) Wat er being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient manag resources  to  ensure  sustainability  and  availability  are  primarily  undertaken  by  the Governments.  In  order  to  supplement  their  efforts,  Central Government  provides  technical  and  financ assistance to State Governments through various schemes and programmes. Central Government various steps to tackle water crisis through various schemes lik e Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, Repair, Renovation & Restoration of wat implementation  of  new  projects  like  Pancheshwar  Dam,  Polavaram  Project,  Interlinking  of  Ri Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project, etc. Additionally, no n- structural measures have also been ta through  the  development  and  augmentation  of  National  Hydrology  Project,  Flood  Forecastin Hydrological Observation Stations, etc.

Central Government launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKS Y) in 2015 - 16 which aims to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irr on  farm  water  use  efficiency,  introduce  sustainable  water  conservation  practices,  etc.,  th desired  rural  prosp erity. It  envisages  end  to  end  solution  in  irrigation  supply  chain  viz.  wat distribution, efficient application and extension services.

During  2016 - 17,  99  on - going  Major/Medium  irrigation  projects  under  PMKSY - Accelerated Irrigation Benefits P rogramme (AIBP) having potential of 76.03 lakh ha. w ereprioritized in consultation w States, for completion in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Command Area Developme Management  (CADWM)  works. The  CADWM  programme has  been  taken  up  to  enhance  utilizatio irrigation potential created and improve agriculture production on a sustainable basis thr Irrigation Management (PIM).

The Government of India has also formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development which envisages transfer of water from surplus basins to water deficit basins. - basin transfer proposals envisage additional utilization of available water to bring additional area

Central Government has formulated National Water Policy (NWP) , 2012 which inter - alia recommends conservation,  promotion  and  protection  of water  andhighlights the  need  for  augmenting  the availability of waterthrough rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management m The NWP, 2012 hasbeen sentto all States/ Union Territories and the concerned Central Ministries for approp iate action.

Under National Water Mission, 11 State Governments namely, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand Bengal are being supported to formulate State Water Budgeting for water security, safety and sustainabi an innovative strategic intervention to check over -exploitation, water deficiency and contamination by b a  convergence  and  synergy  model  aimed  at  performance  based  water  governance.  The  initiati being expanded across all the States and UTs.

Other initiatives/measures taken by the Central Government for conservation of grou available at the URL http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/MeasuresForGW - Depletion\_1.pdf .

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