Lok Sabha Question No. 1524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Conservation of Ground Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1524

ANSWERED ON 09.03.2017

## CONSERVATION OF GROUND WATER

## 1524.         SHRI HARISH MEENA

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

(a) whether the Government has prepared a basic framework for the draft model Act/policy aimed at conserving ground, surface and rain water, thereby stressing on using treated water optimally;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  conserve  fast  depleting  ground  water  levels  through aquifer recharge in the country particularly drought-hit areas in each State including Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b) 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, recycle and reuse of water 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.

(c) Measures taken to control ground water depletion include:

· Circulation of a Model Bill, by this Ministry, 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.

· 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 85 BCM (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.

· 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) funds are provided to the States.

· Department  of  Land  Resources  is  currently  implementing  8214  watershed  development projects in 28 States 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,  and  pasture development etc.

· The Department of Rural Development has prioritized work related with Natural Resources Management  (including  water  harvesting)  under  MGNREGA  and  has  issued  a  joint  framework with the Ministry of Water Resources and Department of Land Resources.

· 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.

· 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.

· 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  to delineate  aquifer  disposition  and  their  characterization  for  preparation  of  aquifer/area  specific ground water management plans, with community participation.

· MoWR, RD & GR has also 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.

· CGWB has been organizing mass awareness programmes in the Country to promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water; about 13 lakh children participated in a nation-wide painting competition in the last year to promote conservation of water.

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