Lok Sabha Question No. 6267 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Water Crisis
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 6267 ANSWERED ON 05.0 4.201 8

## WATER CRISIS

## 6267. SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

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

(a) whether it is a fact that the Central Water Commission has warned of water crisis in of the country in the coming months;

(b) if so, the d etails thereof; and

(c) the action taken/to be taken by the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a)  &  (b)  Central Water  Commission  (CWC)  monitors  live  storage  status  of  91  important reservoirs of the country on weekly basis and issues weekly bulletin every Thursday. W there are indications of comparatively lower storages in the reservoirs, CWC issues adv to the State Governments. As per the live storage position of the 91 reservoirs towards February, 2018, some reservoirs had storage less than 80% of the average of the last whereas  and  few  reservoirs  had  storage  less  than  50%  of  the  a verage  of  the  last  ten  years. Accordingly,  CWC  has  issued  advisories  on  27.02.2018  to  the  concerned  State  Authoriti utilize  the  available  water  resources  prudently  and  efficiently  to  tide  over  any  pos shortage in the coming days and to take appropriate action to avoid water distress.

(c) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient mana water resources to ensure sustainability and availability are primarily undertaken by th State  Governments.  In  order  to  supplement  the  efforts  of the  State  Governments,  Central Government  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  State  Governments  through  v schemes  and  programmes.  Central  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  tackle  water through  various  schemes  lik e  Pradhan  Mantri Krishi  Sinchayee Yojana,  Accelerated  Irrigation Benefits Programme, Repair, Renovation & Restoration of water bodies, implementation of n w

projects  like  Pancheshwar  Dam,  Polavaram Project,  Interlinking  of  Rivers  Project,  Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project, etc. Additionally, non - structural measures have also been taken  through  the  development  and  augmentation  of  National  Hydrology  Project,  Fl Forecasting Stations, Hydrolog ical Observation Stations, etc.

Central  Government  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  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 co practices, etc., thus bringing much desired rural prosperity. It  envi sages end to end solution in irrigation  supply  chain  viz.  water  resources,  distribution,  efficient  application  a services.

During 2016 - 17, 99 on - going Major/Medium irrigation projects under - PMKSY Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AI BP) having potential of 76.03 lakh ha. have been prioritized in consultation with States, for completion in phases up to December, 2019 a their  Command  Area  Development  &  Water  Management  (CADWM)  works. The  CADWM programme has been taken up with a view to enhance utilization of irrigation potential created improve agriculture production on a sustainable basis through Participatory Ir Management.

Central  Government  has  formulated National  Water  Policy , 2012 which inter - alia recommen ds conservation,  promotion  and  protection  of water  andhighlights the  need  for augmenting the availability of waterthrough rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and management measures. The Policy hasbeen sentto all States/ Union Territories and the concerned Central Ministries for appropriate action.

The  Government  of  India  has  also  formulated  a  National  Perspective  Plan  for resources  development  which  envisages  transfer  of  water  from  surplus  basins  to  water basins. The inter - basin transfer proposals envisage additional utilization of available water additional area under irrigation.

Central Ground Water Board has prepared a conceptual document entitled '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 country to harn (Billion  Cubic  Meters)  of  water.  The  augmented  ground  water  resources  will  enhance avai lability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. The Mast been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.

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