Lok Sabha Question No. 1570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-24
Subject: National Water Policy
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: VIRENDRA  KUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 1570

ANSWERED ON 24.11.2016

## NATIONAL WATER POLICY

## †1570. DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR

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

- (a) whether the objectives of National Water Policy of 2002 have been achieved;
- (b) if so, the main achievements thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to increase the allocation and release of funds during the current plan period for achieving the objectives as mentioned in the draft of National Water Policy, 2012; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) to (d) The National Water Policy (NWP), 2012 was adopted by the National Water Resources Council at its meeting held on 28 th December, 2012 and circulated to all State Governments/Union Territories and the concerned Central Ministries for appropriate action.  The main  objective  of  the  NWP  is  to  take  cognizance  of  the  existing  situation  in  water  sector,  to propose a framework for creation of a system of laws and institutions and a plan of action with a unified national perspective in planning, management and use of water resources.

Water being a State subject, several measures for conservation, management and distribution of water resources (which includes objectives of NWP) are undertaken by the State Governments. Central  Government  supplements  the  efforts of the  State  Governments  through  various schemes/programmes.

Government of India has launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to extend coverage of irrigation 'Har Khet ko Pani' and improving water use efficiency 'More crop per

drop'  in a focused  manner  with  end  to  end  solutions  on  source  creation,  distribution, management, field application and extension activities at an estimated cost of Rs. 77,595 crore for 99 priority Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) projects in a mission mode, to create an irrigation potential of 7.6 million ha.

Central  Government has approved the National  Hydrology Project  (NHP) as a Central Sector Scheme  on  06.04.2016  with  a  total  outlay  of  Rs.  3679.77  crore  to  help  in  gathering  Hydrometeorological  data  for  setting  up  of  a  system  for  timely  and  reliable  water  resources  data acquisition,  storage,  collation  and  management  and  also  to  provide  tools/system  for  informed decision making in water sector. Central Government has also launched 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'.

Provision has also been made for preparation of aquifer management plan for the country under Ground Water Management and Regulation scheme at an outlay of Rs. 3,539 crore in 12 th Plan period.  Similarly,  for  augmentation  of  water  availability  through  ground  water  recharge  and other  means  at  an  outlay  of  Rs.  6,000  crore  under  National  Ground  Water  Management Improvement scheme has been made.

Some other important schemes/programmes being sponsored by Central Government and their outlay for 12 th Plan period are Scheme for Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Waterbodies (Rs. 6,235 crore), Command Area Development and Watershed Management (CAD&WM) Programme (Rs. 15,000 crore), Flood Management Programme (FMP) (Rs. 10,000 crore), Development of Water Resources Information System (DWRIS) (Rs. 2,247 crore), etc.

*****