Lok Sabha Question No. 1425 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Water Crisis in Cities
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1425

ANSWERED ON 09.03.2017

## WATER CRISIS IN CITIES

## 1425. SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE

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

- (a) whether the fast growing cities in the country are facing unprecedented water crisis;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has noticed any prediction models that the national supply of water is likely to fall to 50 per cent below demand by 2030;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to arrest the upcoming water crisis?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)  to  (d)  River  basin  being  the  natural  hydrological  unit,  the  assessment  of  water  resources availability  was  done  by  Central  Water  Commission  (CWC) in 1993 river basin wise. As per the assessment,  the  river  basin-wise  average  annual  water  availability  in  the  country  is  1869  billion cubic meters (BCM). It is estimated that owing to topographic, hydrological and other constraints, the  utilizable  water  with  conventional  approach  is  1123  BCM  which  comprises  of  690  BCM  of surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water resources.

In  view  of  growing  population,  the  per  capita  water  availability  in  India  is  reducing progressively.  The  average  annual  per  capita  water  availability  in  the  years  2001  and  2011  was assessed as 1820 cubic meters and 1545 cubic meters respectively which may reduce further to 1341 and 1140 in the years 2025 and 2050 respectively.

Annual per-capita water availability of less than 1700 cubic meters is considered as water stressed  condition,  whereas  annual  per-capita  water  availability  below  1000  cubic  meters  is considered as a water scarcity condition. Due to temporal and spatial variability of rainfall, many regions / states receive less than average rainfall and may be considered as water stressed or water scarce.

(e) Water  being  a  State Subject,  State  Governments  undertake  several  measures  for augmenting, conserving and utilizing the water resources which inter-alia include  conservation of water  resources  in  reservoirs  and  traditional  water  bodies,  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial recharge of ground water.

A  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  envisaging  inter-basin  transfer  of  water  has  been formulated by this Ministry to improve water security in the country. The implementation of NPP would give added benefits of approximately 35 million hectare of additional irrigation potential and 34000  mega  watts  (MW)  hydro  power  generation  apart  from  the  incidental  benefits  of  flood moderation, navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.

Central  Ground  Water  Board,  under  this  Ministry  has  prepared  a  conceptual  document entitled  'Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to  Ground  Water  in  India'  during  the  year  2013 envisaging construction of 1.11 crore Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge structures in the country 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.

Central  Government  has  launched  the  National  Water  Mission  with  the  objective  of conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and  within  States  through  integrated  water  resources  development  and  management.  One  of  the goals of National Water Mission is increasing water use efficiency by 20%.

Improved  water  use  efficiency  in  different  sectors  such  as  in  irrigation  (through  microirrigation,  e.g.,  drip,  sprinkler  etc.),  industry  and  households  is  being  encouraged  through  various initiatives, programmes/ schemes of the Government.

Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water constitute a special focus area for MGNREGA works and about 2/3rd of the expenditure is directly related to construction of such structures.

Recycle  and  reuse  of  water,  after  treatment  to  specified  standards  as  well  as  rainwater harvesting  and  artificial  recharge  are  being  incentivized  through  various  initiatives,  programmes/ schemes of the Government.

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