Lok Sabha Question No. 1413 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Water Save Campaign
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1413

ANSWERED ON 09.03.2017

## WATER SAVE CAMPAIGN

## 1413.   SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

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

(a) whether the peoples' movement for water conservation has been intensified in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Water Save Campaign launched in 2001 still continues in 2017; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which the said campaign has been helpful to people and farmers of the country

## ANSWER

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

## (Dr. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)  to  (c):  To  intensify  peoples  movement  for  water  conservation,  Government  of  India  has launched  'Jal  Kranti  Abhiyan'  (2015-16)  in  order  to  consolidate  water  conservation  and management  in  the  Country  in  a  holistic  and  integrated  approach  involving  all  stakeholders, making it a mass movement. The activities included in Jal  Kranti Abhiyan are Jal Gram Yojana, Development of Model Command Area, Mass Awareness Programme and Other activities. 'Jal Gram Yojana' is one of the main component of 'Jal Kranti Abhiyan', envisages selection of two villages  in  every  district,  preferably  'over-exploited'  or  facing  acute  water  scarcity,  as  'Jal Grams'  to  ensure  optimum  and  sustainable  utilization  of  Water.  Jal  Kranti  Abhiyan  seeks  to converge relevant Central/State sponsored schemes/programmes for execution of the works to be undertaken under Water Security Plans. Water security plans for 246 identified Jal Grams have been prepared.

The  Government  of  India  has  established  National  Water  Mission  (NWM)  under National Action Plan on Climate Change.  The main  objective  of  NWM is 'conservation  of

water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management'. NWM is conducting Human Resource Development and Capacity Building, training and mass awareness programmes.  NWM  has  organised  51  training  programmes/mass  awareness  programmes  for about 3600 persons during 2015-16 and 23 training programmes/mass awareness programmes for  about  800  persons  during  2016-17.  NWM  has  also  organized  one  National  Convention  of Water  User  Associations  (WUAs)  on  Participatory  Irrigation  Management  (PIM)  and  three Regional  Conventions  covering  WUAs  and  officials  from    Northern  (States  of  J&K,  HP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana), Western (Maharashtra, M.P., Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Goa) and Southern (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala)  regions    to  identify  the  problems  being  faced  by  WUAs  with  the  overall  objective  of water  conservation,  increasing  water  use  efficiency  in  irrigation.  Further,  the  Government  is implementing Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)  which includes water conservation  measures,  through  completion  of  99  ongoing  Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefit Programme (AIBP), irrigation projects, to create an irrigation potential of 7.6 million ha.

Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  activities  viz;  Workshops,  Training programmes, organising Bhujal Manthan, Essay & Painting Competitions on Water Conservation, are being implemented. Various organisations under this Ministry have participated  in  various  exhibitions  and  fairs  across  the  country  including  India  International Trade Fair. IEC activities are also carried out through display of models and banners, distribution of pamphlets etc. to sensitize public regarding water conservation.

The  campaign  on  water  conservation  is  helpful  for  involving  people  and  in  their ownership of movement.

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