Lok Sabha Question No. 1213 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Per Capita Availability of Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1213 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2017

## PER CAPITA AVAILABILITY OF WATER

## 1213.         SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA

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

(a) the details of plans/schemes formulated and implemented to conserve water along with their present status;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the country has 18 per cent of the world's population but has only 4 per cent of water resources is useable, if so, the details and the facts thereof;

(c)  whether annual per capita availability of water is decreasing drastically and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and

(d) the measures taken for making water conservation a national obsession?

## ANSWER

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

(Dr. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)  to  (d)  India  has  more  than  18  %  of  the  world's  population,  but  has  only  4%  of  world's  renewable  water resources and 2.4% of world's land area. India receives an average rainfall of about 1170 mm which corresponds to an annual precipitation of 4000 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) including snowfall. There is considerable variation in rainfall both temporally and spatially. Nearly 75%  of  this i.e.  3000  BCM  occurs  during the  monsoon season confined to 3 to 4 months (June to September) in a year.

The per capita average annual water availability in the country is reducing progressively due to increase in population. The average annual per capita availability of water in the country during 2001 and 2011 is 1816 and 1545 m3/year respectively. The estimated values for 2015 and 2050 are 1340 and 1140 m3/Year respectively.

Water  being  a  State  subject,  steps  for  augmentation,  conservation  and  efficient  management  to  ensure sustainability of water resources are undertaken by the respective State Governments. Supplementing the efforts of State  Governments,  Government  of  India  has  been  implementing  a  number  of  schemes  to  conserve  water  are follows viz.,

- i. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
- ii. Ground Water Management & Regulation
- iii. National Water Mission
- iv. Jal Kranti Abhiyan
- v. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

## (i) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

PMKSY  has  been  formulated  amalgamating  ongoing  schemes  viz.  Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefit  Programme (AIBP)  of  the  Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  &  Ganga  Rejuvenation  (MoWR,  RD  &  GR), Integrated  Watershed  Management  Programme  (IWMP)  of  Department  of  Land  Resources  (DoLR)  and  the  On Farm Water Management (OFWM) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC). 99 on-going irrigation projects  under  AIBP    have  been  prioritised  for  completion  by  December  2019  at  the  cost  Rs.77595  crores  in  a Mission mode to create an irrigation potential of 7.6 million ha.

## (ii) Ground Water Management & Regulation

Several measures have been taken up by the Central Government to conserve and replenish ground water in the Country viz.,

- a) The National Water Policy (2012) formulated by Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia, advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures.  The National Water Policy (2012) has been forwarded to all State Governments/ UTs and concerned Ministries/ Departments of Central Government for adoption.
- b) 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.
- c) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under 'The Environment (Protection)Act, 1986' for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the Country.  So far, CGWA has notified 162 areas in the Country for the purpose of regulation of ground water. Under the  CGWA guidelines, in  notified  areas,  no  permission  is  accorded  to  extract  ground  water  through  any energized  means  for  any  purpose  other  than  drinking  water.    However,  for  non-notified  areas,  ground  water withdrawal by industries is regulated by means of guidelines/criteria as specified as CGWA.
- d) CGWB  has  also  prepared  a  conceptual  document  entitle  'Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to Ground Water in India' during 2013 to augment ground water resources which will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purpose and has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.
- e) CGWB has taken up National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme during XII plan. Against the target of 5.26 lakh Sq. Km in priority areas, Aquifer Maps and Ground Water Management plans have been completed in 4.1 lakh sq.km by September 2016.
- f) 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.

## (iii) National Water Mission

The Government of India has established National Water Mission (NWM) under National Action Plan on Climate Change. NWM main activities being undertaken are: baseline studies, demonstration projects, preparation of State Specific Action Plan (SSAP) for water sector, Human Resource Development & Capacity Building, training and mass awareness programmes.

- (iv)      Jal Kranti Abhiyan is being celebrated to consolidate water conservation and management in the country through  a  holistic  and  integrated  approach  involving  all  stakeholders,  making  it  a  mass  movement.  The activities/components  being  undertaken  in  the  Abhiyan  are:  -  (a)  Jal  Gram  Yojana,  (b)  Development  of  Model Command Area, (c).   Pollution abatement, (d)    Mass Awareness Programme and (e) Other Activities
- (v)       MGNREGA: Water conservation and water harvesting works are on prime focus under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. In the current financial year, 2016-17, a target of constructing 8,82,325 Farm Ponds under MGNREGA has been kept.

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