Lok Sabha Question No. 822 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-20
Subject: Water Level in Wells
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 822

ANSWERED ON 20 .0 7.201 7

## WATER LEVEL IN WELLS

## 822. SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY

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

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  many  wells  especially  in  southern  States  including  Andhr running dry because of intense heat, if so, the detail s thereof;

(b) whether the efforts of farmers to switch to crops that require less water haven't succeeded, if so, the reasons therefor; and

(c) the steps being taken to start water conservation projects in case there is shortage of

## ANSWER

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

## ( DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BA LYAN )

(a)Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) carries out ground water monitoring, four times a y regional scale through a network of observation w ells in the Country. Analysis of ground water level data of  Pre - monsoon  2017  in  the  Southern  States  of  the  Country  (Andhra  Pradesh,  Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu and Telangana) indicates that major part of the SouthernStates shows water level in the depth range of 5- 10 mbgl (Metre Below Ground Level) . 42% wells analysed show water level of 5 - 10 mbgl, f ollowed by 26% wells in 10 - 20 mbgl.

The depletion of ground water levels in the S tate sis observed during the last deca de ismainly d ue to increased extraction of g round water to meet the water demand and erratic rainfall resulting in dry of shallow wells. State -wise Decadal Water Level Fluctuation with Mean Pre - monsoon (2007 to 2016 ) and Pre - monsoon 2017 forSouthernStates are given at Annexure.

(b) Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers' Welfare ( DAC&FW )is implementing PMKSY Per  Drop  More  Crop  under  which  efficient  water  application  systems  and  various  drought interventions including micro - water harvesting and water conservation measures are promoted .  Besides, under the National Food Security M ssion (NFSM), less water requiring crops like Millets and Pul being promoted.

(c) The TWAD Board, Government of Tamil Nadu has taken up stringent water conservation meas to augment the drinking water sources.  So far, TWAD Board has construct ed 12558 Recharge structures such as Check Dams, Percolation Ponds, Recharge Shaft and Ooranies etc. in close proximity water source. The study reveals that ground water level rise of 2 to 3m.

The  Government  of  Telangana has  taken  up  water  conservation  measures  by  restorat renovation  and  desilting  of  all  MI  tanks  in  the  State  in  a  phased  manner  under  'Mission  Kakatiya  : progamme to improve the ground water levels'.  Further, the State Ground Water Department provides technical suggestion in respect of urban and rural rain water harvesting structures to the agencies, whenever required.  A recharge plan for 42 'Over -Exploited' Mandals have been prepared and forwarded  to  Panchayat  Raj  &  Rural  Development and  Irrigation  &  CAD  for  implementation  in  a massive way to improve ground water levels in the water scarcity areas of the State.

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has initiated water conservation activities i mode, in an integrated and time bound approach under Neeru - Chettu Programme.  In the last 2 years, t Government has desilted about 62.95 Crore Cubic meters from Tanks, constructed 54,628 Chec dams, 4,629 Percolation tanks, 5,83,797 Form ponds, 58,136, Soil Moisture Conservation structures etc.

Besides, other steps taken by the Government for conservation of ground water are a the following URL http://mowr.gov.in/writereaddata/GW\_Depletion.pdf .

*****

Annexure referred in reply to par  (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 822 to be answered on dated20.07.2017 regarding 'Water Level in Wells' .

## State - wise Decadal  Water Level Fluctuation With Mean Pre - monsoon (2007 to 2016) and Pre -monsoon 2017

| S.No.   | Name of State   | No. of wells Analysed   | Rise   | Rise   | Fall   | Fall   | Wells showing no change   | Wells showing no change   |
|---------|-----------------|-------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
|         |                 |                         | No.    | %      | No.    | %      | No.                       | %                         |
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh  | 751                     | 184    | 25     | 563    | 75     | 4                         | 0.5                       |
| 2       | Goa             | 65                      | 50     | 77     | 15     | 23     | 0                         | 0.0                       |
| 3       | Karnataka       | 1421                    | 423    | 30     | 985    | 69     | 13                        | 0.9                       |
| 4       | Kerala          | 1366                    | 405    | 30     | 957    | 70     | 4                         | 0.3                       |
| 5       | Pondicherry     | 5                       | 0      | 0      | 5      | 100    | 0                         | 0.0                       |
| 6       | Tamil Nadu      | 536                     | 71     | 13     | 465    | 87     | 0                         | 0.0                       |
| 7       | Telangana       | 586                     | 315    | 54     | 267    | 46     | 4                         | 0.7                       |
| Total   | Total           | 4730                    | 1448   | 30.6   | 3257   | 68.9   | 25                        | 0.5                       |