Lok Sabha Question No. 2738 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-01
Subject: Rain Water Harvesting
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: BHARAT SINGH, MANSHANKAR NINAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2738 ANSWERED ON 01.12.2016

## RAIN WATER HARVESTING

## †2738. SHRI BHARAT SINGH SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA

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

(a) the details of schemes being implemented for rain water harvesting in the country;

(b)  whether  there  is  any  ongoing  programme/scheme  of  the  Government  to  convert  rain  water  into drinking water, if so, the details thereof and the levels at which rain water is being harvested thereunder;

(c) the details of the expenditure incurred by the Government for rain water harvesting during the last two years to tide over the crisis; and

(d)  whether  any  special  measures  have  been  taken/are  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  rain  water harvesting at village and town level during the said period, 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  (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  of the policy.

Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  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 85BCM (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.

Ministry of Water Resources, RD &  GR 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. 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  at  delineating  aquifer  disposition and their characterization  for preparation  of aquifer/area  specific  ground  water management plans.

To  increase availability  of  drinking water, the  Ministry  of  Drinking  Water &  Sanitation  has suggested all  States  to  adopt  water  conservation  measures  like  roof  top  rainwater  harvesting,  erecting  sustainability structures  for  water  conservation  etc.  For  creating  such  sustainability  structures,  10  %  of  National  Rural Drinking Water Programme   (NRDWP)   fund  is  provided    to  the  States.  An  expenditure  of Rs.  573.79 crore  was  incurred  during  2014-15,  Rs.  195.94  crore  in  2015-16  and  Rs.29.67  crore  in  2016-17  (uptil 29.11.2016).

Department of Land Resources is currently  implementing  8214  watershed  development  projects  in 28  States (except  Goa)  covering  an area of about  39.07  million  ha. under  the    Watershed  Development Component    (WDC)  of the Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee    Yojana  (PMKSY)  principally  for development of rainfed portions of net cultivated area and culturable wastelands.  The major activities taken up under  the  WDC-PMKSY,  inter-alia,  include  ridge  area  treatment,  drainage  line  afforestation,    soil  and moisture conservation,   rain  water  harvesting,  horticulture,   pasture  development,  creation of livelihoods for asset-less person, etc. An amount of Rs. 2284.63 crore was released  as central  share during  2014-15,  Rs. 1487.83  crore in 2015-16  and Rs. 883.05  crore in 2016-17 (uptil 31.10.2016).

Ministry of Urban  Development has  circulated its Model Building Bye-Laws (2016) to all State Governments which, inter-alia, incorporates provisions for Rain Water Harvesting. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban  Transformation (AMRUT) mandates the States to formulate a policy and action plan for having rain water harvesting  structures in all commercial,  public  buildings and new buildings on plots of 300 sq.m and above.

As  per Para 4.1  of  Schedule-I  of  the  Mahatma Gandhi  National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Act (MGNREGA),  the  water conservation  and  water harvesting  structures  to  augment  ground water Institute special focus  on  recharging ground water including drinking water sources. In· addition, priority has been given for construction of farm ponds in the year 2016-17 to harvest rain water.

Details of     Conservation & Watershed Management works is as under:

|         |                      | FY 2014-15   | FY 2014-15                | FY 2015-16   | FY 2015-16                | 2016-17 as on 25/11/2016   | 2016-17 as on 25/11/2016   |
|---------|----------------------|--------------|---------------------------|--------------|---------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Sl. No. | Work Category        | Total Works  | Expenditure (Rs. In lakh) | Total Works  | Expenditure (Rs. In lakh) | Total Works                | Expenditure (Rs. In lakh)  |
| 1       | Water Conservation   | 665700       | 312298.59                 | 782585       | 399128.82                 | 1144138                    | 508227.89                  |
| 2       | Watersheq Management | 46675        | 158196.53                 | 263464       | 188934.35                 | 244898                     | 181676.27                  |