Lok Sabha Question No. 3704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Progress Under Aquifer Mapping
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, B.V. NAYAK, R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

3704.

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3704

ANSWERED ON 08.12.2016

## PROGRESS UNDER AQUIFER MAPPING

SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH SHRI B.V. NAIK SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

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

(a) whether the Government has initiated the work on aquifer mapping, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware that despite passage of three years of the Twelfth Five Year Plan no actual work has been done on critical front of aquifer mapping, if so, the present status thereof and the reasons for delay;

(c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  share  the  expenditure  likely  to  be  incurred  with respective States, if so, the details thereof including the expected total expenditure including the funds spent for the purpose so far;

(d) whether any geophysical surveys have been undertaken on a pilot basis in the country, if so, the details thereof along with the outcome of surveys including the potential for ground water exploration and the names of companies involved in such surveys; and

(e) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to expedite the matter?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c) An  area  of  8.89  lakh  sq.km  has  been  targeted  to  be  covered  during  the  XII  Plan Period, which includes  'Over-Exploited ',  'Critical '  and  'Semi-critical'   areas  prioritized  for aquifer  mapping   in  this  phase.  Aquifer  maps  and  management  plans  have  been  prepared  for an area of around 3.46 lakl1 sq.km, so far.

This  is  a  Central  Sector  Scheme,  fully funded  by the  Union  Government.   CGWB  is the  implementing  agency    for  the  same.  The  expected  expenditure  likely  to  be  incurred  by the end  of  XII  Plan  under  'Ground  Water  Management  &  Regulation'  scheme  is  about  Rs. 660  Crore.  The  funds  allocated  and  utilized  year-wise  during    the  12th  Five  Year  Plan  is given below:

| Year      | Expenditure (Rs. in crores)   |
|-----------|-------------------------------|
| 20 I 2-13 | 129.65                        |
| 2013-14   | 84.4                          |
| 20 I 4-15 | I 09.36                       |
| 2015-I 6  | I 52.55                       |

(d) Yes,  Madam.  The  Geophysical  surveys  were  undertaken  on  a  pilot  basis  through  a consultancy   project  given  to  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial   Research  -    National Geophysical Research   Institute  (CSIR-NGRI),   Hyderabad   in  select  areas  in  the  States    of Rajasthan,   Maharashtra,   Karnataka,   Tamil   Nadu   and   Bihar.   The   survey   indicated   the potential zones for water availability.

The  Heliborne  Geophysical  Survey  has  been  completed  covering  a total area  of  about 2000  sq.lan.    The  outcome  of  the  survey  has  helped  in  delineation  of  aquifer  disposition  in vertical  and  horizontal dimensions.      On  the  basis  of  the  results, efficacy  of  different geophysical techniques  has  been  ascertained  and  protocol  for  use  of  geophysical  techniques for  aquifer mapping in different hydrogeological  terrains has been established.

(e)    To  ensure  effective  implementation  of  the  ongoing  programme,  several  steps  have  been taken, including (i) prioritization of areas for aquifer mapping; (ii) preparation of implementation   plans;  (iii)  outsourcing  of  exploration   works;  and  (iv)  constitution  of  a National    Inter-departmental       Steering   Committee   (NISC)    for   providing    guidance    in implementation of this programme etc.

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