Lok Sabha Question No. 4787 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Water Storage in Reservoirs
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SUDHEER GUPTA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4787

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017

## WATER STORAGE IN RESERVOIRS

| 4787. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA   | KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH DR. P. VENUGOPAL SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|

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

(a) whether the Government is aware of the concerns raised by world meteorological agencies about the effect of El Nino bringing drought like situation in India this year and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether water storage availability in major reservoirs of the country is very low as compared to the last year, till mid March, 2017 and if so, the details thereof and the reasons for the same, region-wise;

(c) whether the Government has worked out any strategy and held consultation with States to meet the challenge of scarcity of water during the ensuing summer season;

- (d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the States thereto; and

(e) the other corrective measures taken/ being taken by the Government to ensure sustainability of water in the country during summer season particularly drought affected areas?

## ANSWER

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

(a) World Meteorological Agencies have indicated possibility of El Nino conditions to develop over Pacific later this year. None of these agencies have mentioned about its negative impact on the Indian monsoon rainfall this year. According to various studies, there is no one to one relation between these two events.

(b) Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors live storage status of 91 reservoirs of the country on weekly  basis  and  issues  weekly  bulletin  on  every  Thursday.  The  live  storage  available  of  these reservoirs was 54.962 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) on 23.03.2017 as compared to 41.704 BCM during same week of last  year.  The  region-wise  live  storage  available  as  compared  to  last  year  live  storage available during March is at Annexure I.  The main reason of change in available water is rainfall and water demand etc.

(c) to (e) State  Governments  undertake  several  measures  to  ensure  sustainability,  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. The measures taken by the Government to manage water resources in the country are:-

- Keeping in view the less water available in some of the regions, CWC have issued advisories to the State Govts./UT's on 28.12.2016 and 23.02.2017 to use the available water prudently and efficiently to tide over any possible water shortage in the coming Summer Season.
- The Government has taken up a major programme for completion of 99 ongoing AIBP projects at a cost of Rs. 77,595crores to create irrigation potential of 7.6 mha.
- Special  focus  is  given  through  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act (MGNREGA) for water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water in the over exploited blocks. In addition, priority has been given for construction of farm ponds in the year 2016-17 to harvest rain water and recharge groundwater.
- 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.
- CGWB has also 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  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.
- Besides, Central Ground Water Authority (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.
- CGWB has  been  organizing  mass  awareness  programmes  in  the  Country  to  promote  rain  water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.

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## Annexure referred  to  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.4787  on  'Water  Storage  in Reservoirs' for answer on 30.03.2017.

Region-wise  live  storage  available  as  compared  to  last  year  live  storage  available  during March (23.3.2017).

| S. No.          | REGION / STATE   | NO. OF RESERVOIRS   | LIVE CAPACIT Y AT FRL   | LIVE STORAGE (BCM)   | LIVE STORAGE (BCM)   | LIVE STORAGE (BCM)   |
|-----------------|------------------|---------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
|                 |                  | MONITORED           | (BCM)                   | CURRENT YEAR         | LAST YEAR            | LAST 10 YRS. AVG.    |
| NORTHERN REGION | NORTHERN REGION  | NORTHERN REGION     | NORTHERN REGION         | NORTHERN REGION      | NORTHERN REGION      | NORTHERN REGION      |
| 1               | H.P.             | 2                   | 12.39                   | 1.98                 | 3.13                 | 3.72                 |
| 2               | PUNJAB           | 1                   | 2.34                    | 0.84                 | 0.53                 | 0.76                 |
| 3               | RAJASTHAN        | 3                   | 3.28                    | 1.20                 | 0.92                 | 1.05                 |
| SUB-TOTAL       | SUB-TOTAL        | 6                   | 18.01                   | 4.02                 | 4.58                 | 5.53                 |
| EASTERN REGION  | EASTERN REGION   | EASTERN REGION      | EASTERN REGION          | EASTERN REGION       | EASTERN REGION       | EASTERN REGION       |
| 1               | JHARKHAND        | 5                   | 1.79                    | 1.14                 | 0.56                 | 0.84                 |
| 2               | ODISHA           | 7                   | 15.33                   | 8.81                 | 6.52                 | 7.14                 |
| 3               | W. BENGAL        | 2                   | 1.39                    | 0.44                 | 0.31                 | 0.36                 |
| 4               | TRIPURA          | 1                   | 0.31                    | 0.14                 | 0.16                 | 0.04                 |
| SUB-TOTAL       | SUB-TOTAL        | 15                  | 18.83                   | 10.53                | 7.55                 | 8.38                 |
| WESTERN REGION  | WESTERN REGION   | WESTERN REGION      | WESTERN REGION          | WESTERN REGION       | WESTERN REGION       | WESTERN REGION       |
| 1               | GUJARAT          | 10                  | 13.00                   | 7.00                 | 3.66                 | 6.09                 |
| 2               | MAH.             | 17                  | 14.07                   | 5.29                 | 2.60                 | 5.74                 |
| SUB-TOTAL       | SUB-TOTAL        | 27                  | 27.07                   | 12.29                | 6.25                 | 11.83                |
| CENTRAL REGION  | CENTRAL REGION   | CENTRAL REGION      | CENTRAL REGION          | CENTRAL REGION       | CENTRAL REGION       | CENTRAL REGION       |
| 1               | U.P.             | 2                   | 6.36                    | 3.04                 | 1.42                 | 1.61                 |
| 2               | UTTARAKHAND      | 2                   | 4.81                    | 1.03                 | 0.75                 | 1.63                 |
| 3               | M.P.             | 6                   | 27.32                   | 13.50                | 10.33                | 8.45                 |
| 4               | CHHATISGARH      | 2                   | 3.81                    | 2.55                 | 1.55                 | 2.10                 |
| SUB-TOTAL       | SUB-TOTAL        | 12                  | 42.30                   | 20.12                | 14.04                | 13.79                |
| SOUTHERN REGION | SOUTHERN REGION  | SOUTHERN REGION     | SOUTHERN REGION         | SOUTHERN REGION      | SOUTHERN REGION      | SOUTHERN REGION      |
| 1               | AP&TG            | 2                   | 15.13                   | 0.91                 | 0.78                 | 3.44                 |
| 2               | A.P              | 1                   | 1.99                    | 0.38                 | 0.95                 | 0.93                 |
| 3               | TELANGANA        | 2                   | 2.92                    | 1.04                 | 0.23                 | 0.66                 |
| 4               | KARNATAKA        | 14                  | 23.49                   | 4.15                 | 4.73                 | 6.59                 |
| 5               | KERALA           | 6                   | 3.83                    | 1.21                 | 1.60                 | 1.64                 |
| 6               | T.N.             | 6                   | 4.23                    | 0.31                 | 1.00                 | 1.57                 |
| SUB-TOTAL       | SUB-TOTAL        | 31                  | 51.59                   | 8.00                 | 9.29                 | 14.83                |
| COUNTRYASAWHOLE | COUNTRYASAWHOLE  | 91                  | 157.80                  | 54.96                | 41.70                | 54.35                |