Lok Sabha Question No. 2615 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-01
Subject: Drought Hit Areas
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2615

ANSWERED ON 01.12.2016

## DROUGHT HIT AREAS

## 2615.         SHRI JAYADEV GALLA

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

(a) whether the Government has decided to send a team from the Central Water Commission and the Central Ground Water Board to various drought hit areas in the country to study reasons for drought;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether such exercise has been done earlier also, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the action taken by the Government on each of such report received therefrom pertaining to various States including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  & GANGA REJUVENATION (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)  to  (d)      Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation  had constituted technical teams comprising officers from regional offices of Central Water Commission, and Central Ground Water Board for an on the spot study  of water situation in drought affected  areas during 2016. Prior to this, this Ministry had  constituteda central team to prepare  a  vulnerability  map  and  remedial  measures  for  optimum  availability  of  water  in Bundelkhand.

The Technical Teams have suggested various short and long term measures specific to the  region/area/states,  to  mitigate  water  scarcity  situation  including  in  Andhra  Pradesh  and Telangana.    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 are commonly recommended.

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. This

Ministry  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  the  State  Governments  in  this  regard through  various  schemes  and  programmes  viz.  Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme, Scheme  for  Repair,  Renovation  &  Restoration  of  Water-bodies  etc.  The  long  term  measures taken by the Government to manage water resources in the country are:-

- The  Government  has  taken  up  a  major  programme  for  completion  of  99  ongoing  AIBP projects at a cost of Rs. 77,595crores to create an irrigation potential of 7.6 mha. Eight of the 99 projects are from Andhra Pradesh and 11 from Telangana.
- Special focus is given through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)  for  water  conservation  and  water  harvesting  structures  to  augment  ground water in the over exploited blocks. In addition, priority has been given for construction of farm ponds in the year 2016-17 to harvest rain water and recharge groundwater.
- This  Ministry  has  circulated  a  Model  Bill  to  all  the  States/UTs  to  enable  them  to  enact suitable ground water legislation for its regulation and development which includes provision of  rain  water  harvesting.  So  far,  15  States/UTs  have  adopted  and  implemented  the  ground water legislation on the lines of Model bill.
- CGWB  has  also  prepared  a  conceptual  document  entitled  'Master  Plan  for  Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India' during 2013, involving ground water scientists/experts. The  Master  Plan  envisages  construction  of  1.11  crore  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial recharge  structures  in  the  Country  at  an  estimated  cost  of  Rs.79,178  crores  to  harness  85 BCM (Billion Cubic Metre) of water. The augmented ground water resources will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purpose. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.
- Besides, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has issued advisories to States and UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water / rain water harvesting. 30  States/UTs  have  made  rain  water  harvesting  mandatory  by  enacting  laws  or  by formulating rules & regulations or by including provisions in Building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
- CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme during XII Plan, 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/area specific ground water management plans, with community participation.
- CGWB has been organizing  mass  awareness  programmes  in  the  Country  to  promote  rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.

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