Lok Sabha Question No. 3915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-10
Subject: Depletion of Groundwater Resources
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: OM BIRLA

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 3915

## ANSWERED ON 10 .0 8.201 7

## DEPLETION OF GROUNDW ATER RESOURCES

## 3915. SHRI OM BIRLA

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

(a) the policy initiatives taken by the Government to control depletion of groundwater r the country;

(b) the punishment or penalty prescribed fo  offenders of groundwater misuse; and

(c) whether any budget has been allocated for research on effects of groundwater scarcity the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

## ( DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BA LYAN )

(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 augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfa management measures. The National Water Policy (2012 ) has been forwarded to all State/UTs and concerned Central Government Ministries/ Departments for adoption.

Further, Government of India has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs t them to enact suitable ground water legislation for its regulation and development, whic provision  of  rain  water  harvesting.    So  far,  15  States/UTs  have  adop ted  and  implemented  the ground  water  legislation  on  the  lines  of  Model  bill.  Also,  Central  Ground  Water  A (CGWA) has been constituted under 'The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986' for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water developme nt and management in the Country. CGWA has so far notified 162 areas in the Country for the purpose of regulation of ground water. also issued advisories to States and UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial ground  water  /  rai n  water  harvesting.    So  far,  30  States/UTs  have  made  rain  water  harve mandatory by enacting laws or by formulating rules & regulations or by including provi their building bye - laws or through suitable Government Orders.

ground water resources

Other s teps taken by the Central Government to control depletion of are available at the following URL http://mowr.gov.in/writereaddata/GW\_Depletion.pdf .

(b) As per CGWA guidelines ,any user with drawing groundwater for industrial/ infrastructure mining project has to obtain 'No Objection Certificate ( NOC )' .  Any withdrawal of ground water without  valid  NOC  from  CGWA  is  lia ble  to  have  penal  action  under  S ection  15  of 'T he Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ' , under which imprisonment for a term which may extend upto five  years  or  with  fine  which  may  extend  to  one  lakh  rupees,  or  with  both  with  provi additional fine of Rs.5,000/ -per day for continued failure or co ntravention.

(c) Central  Ground  Water  Board conducts  and  facilitates research in ground water  domain  by taking up research projects at i Training and Research Institute .

Central Government is also encouraging R& D studies to ensure safe ground water. CGWB under  Indian  National  Committee  on  Ground  Water  (INCGW)  R&D  programme  is  sponsoring Research  Project  for  groundwater. Under  theR&D  scheme  of  MoWR,  RD&GR,  budget  is allocated for sponsoring research in water re source sector that includes groundwater component and funds are allocated through INCGW.

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