Lok Sabha Question No. 325 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-09
Subject: Encroachment of Water Bodies
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV)

†*325.

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*325

ANSWERED ON 0 9.0 8.2018

## ENCROACHMENT OF WATE R BODIES

SHRI RAJESH RANJAN

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

- (a) whether the problem of fall in ground water level has assumed critical proportions d destruction of lakes, ponds, wells, stepwells and ot her water bodies in the country and if so, details thereof;
- (b) the ongoing measures to improve the ground water level along with the efforts mad revival of such water bodies in the country, State -wise;
- (c) whether such water bodies have bee n occupied illegally by anti - social elements in various parts of the country and if so, the details thereof, State - wise; and
- (d) the initiatives/measures taken by the Government so far to revive/restore such wate free them from encroachment/il legal occupation?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION , ROAD TRANSPORT  &  HIGHWAYS AND SHIPPING

( SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- ( a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the house.

## STATEMENT REFERRED T O IN REPLY TO PART S ( A )  TO (D) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. † *325 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.0 8.2018 REGARDING ' ENCROACHMENT OF WATER BODIES' ASKED  BY  SHRI  RAJESH RANJAN, HON'BLE MP

( a) Fall in ground water levels is attributed to various reasons resulting in withdrawal of ground water in excess of annual recharge from various sources. Destruction of natural water bodies such ponds is one of the reasons for reduction in natural recharge of ground water. In order to a in  water  level on  a  long - term  basis,  Pre - monsoon  water  level  data  collected  by  CGWB  during  Pre -monsoon 2018 has been compared with the decadal average (2008 - 2017). As per analysis, about 52% of the wells monitored have registered decline in ground water levels, mostly i n the range of 0 -2 m. The States in which the problem is more acute are - Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Haryana Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

( b) Government  is  taking  several  measures  to  address  the  issue  of  fall  in  water  levels  i try, mainly through efforts for regulation of ground water use and promotion of water conservati harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water in the States. These include:

- 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 au availability  of  water  through  rain  water  harvesting,  direct  use  of  rainfall  and  oth measures. The Nat ional Water Policy (2012) has been forwarded to all State Governments/U concerned Ministries/Departments of Central Government for adoption.
- Water being State Subject, Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enactsuitable ground water legislation for its regulation and development which includes rain  water  harvesting.  So  far,  15  States/UTs  have  adopted  and  implemented  the  grou legislation on the lines of Model Bill.
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a conceptual document titled 'Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water - 2013' which provides information about area specific artificial recharge techniques to augment the ground water resources based on the availability of ource water and capability of subsurface formations to accommodate it. The Master Plan is availab domain and has also been circulated to the State Governments.
- Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under 'The Environment (P rotection) 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 re ground water.
- Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  i s  carrying  out  training  programs  and  IEC  activitie capacity building and awareness creation among stakeholders on the importance of water co and rainwater harvesting in augmenting the ground water resources.
- CGWB  has  taken  up  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  programme  (NAQUIM)  during  XII  Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. The Aquifer Mapping is aimed delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization for preparation of a quifer/area specific ground water management plans.
- The  scheme  on  'Ground  Water  Management  &  Regulation'  of  CGWB  has  a  component  on Interventions for Aquifer Rejuvenation wherein Artificial Recharge and Rainwater harvesti are taken up in coord ination with State Governments/ Institutions/ Identified PSUs.

- The  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  in  consultation  and  agreement  with  the  Ministry  o Resources, RD & GR and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare has develo ped an actionable framework for Natural Resources Management (NRM), titled 'Mission Water Conservation' to ensure gainful utilization of funds.  The Framework strives to ensure syneergies in Mahatma Gand Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS),  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana (PMKSY), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and Command Area Development &  Water  Management  (CAD&WM),  given  their  common  objectives.    Types  of  common  works undertaken  under  these  programmes/  schemes are  water  conservation  and  management,  water harvesting, soil and moisture conservation, groundwater recharge, flood protection, land Command Area Development & Watershed Management.

(c)to (d) Works related to water resources development & management are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. to encroachment of water bodies comes under purview of the concerned State Governments.

However, consid ering the importance of water bodies for socio economic development, Se (MoWR, RD & GR) vide letter dated 26.02.2016 requested State Governments to take necessary keeping all the water bodies encroachment free. Further, Secretary (WR, RD & GR) vide letter dated 07.11.2016 requested the State Governments to take appropriate action in respect of inclu bodies in land records, inclusion of water bodies as integral part of town planning process, the encroachers, et c.

'Draft guidelines for Conservation and Protection of Water Bodies' have also been circulated to the Central Ministries and State/UTs.

Further, in order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Government of In technical  and  finan cial  assistance  to  State  Governments  to  encourage  sustainable  developme efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes such as Acc Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  (AIBP)  and  scheme  for  Repair,  Renovation  and  Rest ration  (RRR)  of water bodies etc. under Pradhan Mantri KrishiSinchayeeYojana (PMKSY).

Water bodies are included under RRR of water bodies schemes which are encroachment certified by the concerned State Governments.

From XII th Plan onwards ,1876 water bodies costing Rs. 1529 79 crore in the country have been included under this schem e and central assistance of Rs. 344.315 crore has been released. Out of the 1876 water bodies, works in 580 water bodies have been reported to be completed.

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