Lok Sabha Question No. 103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-02
Subject: Shortage of Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUBHASH PATEL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 103

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

## SHORTAGE OF WATER

## †103. SHRI SUBHASH PATEL

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that one third of the people facing shortage of water all over the world live in India;

(b) if so, the facts thereof;

- (c) whether the Government has formulated any action plan to deal with the crisis; 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) & (b) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependent upon hydro-meteorological and geological factors and is generally constant. As per National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD) report, the total water availability of India received through precipitation is about 4000 Billion cubic meter (BCM) per annum. After evaporation, 1869  BCM  water  is  available  as  natural  runoff.  Due  to  geological  and  other  factors,  the  utilizable water availability is limited to 1123 BCM per annum, comprising of 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM  of  replenishable  ground  water.    However,  water  available  per  person  is  dependent  on population of the country and for India, water availability per capita is reducing progressively due to increase in population. The average annual per capita water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1820 cubic meters and 1545 cubic meters respectively which may reduce further to 1341 and 1140 in the years 2025 and 2050 respectively. India is home to more than 17% of world's human population and 17.5% of world's cattle population with only 2.4% of world surface area and 4% of fresh water resources of world.

Annual per-capita water availability of less than 1700 cubic meters is considered as water stressed condition, whereas annual per- capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is considered as a water  scarcity  condition.  Due  to  high  temporal  and  spatial  variation  of  precipitation,  the  water availability of many region of the country is much below the national average and can be considered as water stressed / water scarce.

(c) & (d) Since total water available (i.e. precipitation) cannot be changed, steps for are required for conservation,  efficient  management  and  sustainability  of  water  resources.  Water  being  a  State Subject, 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.

A National Perspective Plan (NPP) envisaging inter-basin transfer of water has been formulated by this Ministry to improve water security in the country. The implementation of NPP would give added benefits of approximately 35 million hectare of additional irrigation potential and 34000 mega watts (MW)  hydro  power  generation  apart  from  the  incidental  benefits  of  flood  moderation,  navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.

Central  Ground Water  Board,  under  this  Ministry  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 harness  85  BCM  (Billion  Cubic  Meters)  of  water.  The  augmented  ground  water  resources  will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.

Central Government has launched the 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. One  of  the  goals  of  National Water Mission is increasing water use efficiency by 20%.

Improved  water  use  efficiency  in  different  sectors  such  as  in  irrigation  (through  micro-irrigation, e.g.,  drip,  sprinkler  etc.),  industry  and  households  is  being  encouraged  through  various  initiatives, programmes/ schemes of the Government.

Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water constitute a special focus area for MGNREGA works and about 2/3rd of the expenditure is directly related to construction of such structures.

Recycle and reuse of water, after treatment to specified standards as well as rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge are being incentivized through various initiatives, programmes/ schemes of the Government.

This Ministry has launched Jal Kranti Abhiyan (2015-16 to 2017-18) in order to consolidate water conservation and management in the country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement.

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