Lok Sabha Question No. 2704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-02
Subject: Water Storage Capacity
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: VEENA DEVI, ALOK SANJAR

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2704

ANSWERED ON 02.0 8.201 8

## WATER STORAGE CAPACI TY

## †2704. SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI SHRI ALOK SANJAR

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

(a) the estimated quantity of water demand for its consumption in the country;

(b) whether there is a need for storing water to meet its requirement and i f so, the react on of the Government  thereto  along  with  the  total  water  storage  capacity  generated  in  the  coun March,2018;

(c) whether the existing storage capacity is sufficient to meet the water consumption deman country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has fixed any targets to increase the water storage capaci e country and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the schemes formulated by the Government to achieve the said target?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL )

( a) Total requirement of the country for different uses for high demand scenario for 2010, 2025 and 2050 has been assessed as 710 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM), 843 BCM and 11 BCM respectively.

(b) to (e) In order to meet present and futu re demands, there is a need for storing water in addit to other measures. As per information available with Central Water Commission (CWC), th storage capacity of major reservoirs created in the country upto March, 2018 is 257.812 B

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient man of  water  resources  to  ensure  sustainability  and  availability  are  primarily  undertak respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of Stat e Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance through various schemes and progr With  a  view  to  meet  the  growing  demand  for  water,  Central  Government  has  taken  var measures such as creation of storages, restoration of water bodies, rainwater harvesting, artifici recharge  to  groundwater,  adoption  of  better  management  practices,  etc.  However,  no  s targets to increase the water storage capacity in the country have been fixed.

Central  Government  has  launched Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  ( PMKSY)  in 2015- 16 which aims to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices,  etc. During  2016 - 17,  99  on -going  Major/Medium  irrigation  projects  under  PMKSY -Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) having potential of 76.03 lakh hectar prioritized in consultation with States, for completio n in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works.

The  Government  of  India  has  formulated  a  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  for  W Resources  Development  which  envisages  transfer  of  water  from  s urplus  basins  to  water  deficit basins to improve availability of water.

Some other initiatives/measures taken by the Central Government to increase the ava of ground water are as under:

- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a conceptual document titled '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 o ntry to harness 85 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) of water. The augmented ground water resources will enh the availability of water for various purposes. The Master Plan has been circulated Governments for implementation.
- CGWB  has  taken  up  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  programme  (NAQUIM)  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/ ground wat er management plans, with community participation.
- 'Atal Bhujal Yojana', envisaging sustainable management of ground water with emphasis on demand  side  management  through  community  participation  in  identified  over - exploited  and ground water stressed areas in priority States of Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pra Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka has been proposed.
- This Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to ena ground water legislation for i ts regulation and development which includes provision of ra water  harvesting.  So  far,  15  States/UTs  have  adopted  and  implemented  the  ground legislation on the lines of Model Bill.
- Water  conservation  and  water  harvesting  structures  to  augment  grou nd  water  constitute  a special focus area for MGNREGA works and about 2/3rd of the expenditure is directly r to construction of such structures.

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