Lok Sabha Question No. 2504 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-16
Subject: Conservation of Ground Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUDHEER GUPTA, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2504

ANSWERED ON 16.03.2017

## CONSERVATION OF GROUND WATER

| 2504.   | SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH SHRIASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN   | SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR   |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  a  Committee  to  suggest  ways  to  conserve  fast  depleting ground  water  levels  through  aquifer  recharge  in  the  country  particularly  drought  hit  areas  such  as Marathwada and Bundelkhand, if so, the details and the composition thereof;

(b) the time by which it is likely to submit the report to the Government;

(c)  whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  have  a  basic  framework  for  the  draft  model  Act/policy aimed at conserving ground, surface and rain water thereby stressing on use of treated water optimally;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said draft is likely to be finalized; and

(e)  the  further  steps  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  conserve  fast  depleting  ground  water  levels through aquifer recharge particularly in drought-hit areas?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b) Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR) had constituted technical teams comprising officers from regional offices of Central Water Commission (CWC), and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for an on the spot study of water situation in drought affected areas including Marathwada and Bundelkhand region during 2016. The Technical Teams have suggested  various  short  and  long  term  measures  specific  to  the  region/area/states,  to  mitigate  water scarcity situation including construction of water harvesting structures, mass awareness among citizens for water conservation, construction of new water storage structures, interlinking of rivers, renovation and repair of existing water bodies.

(c) & (d) 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, recycle and reuse of water 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.

e) Measures taken to control ground water depletion are available at the following  URL http://mowr.gov.in/writereaddata/GW\_Depletion.pdf