Lok Sabha Question No. 322 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-19
Subject: Water Shortage
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SRIRAM MALYADRI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, GANGA REJUVENATION

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 322 ANSWERED ON 19.0 7.201 8

## WATER SHORTAGE

## 322. SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that water shortage is likely to be a major issue in and if so, the details thereof;

(b) water levels in m ajor reservoirs are down to 24% and are at a crisis - like situation and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is developing an integrated national - level  water information system aimed at improving quality and accessibility of water resourc es to tackle the depleting ground water levels; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL )

(a) Water available per person is dependent on population of the country and for Indi availability per capita is reducing progressively due to increase in population. The ave per capita water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1820 cubic meters and 1545 cubic meters respectively which may reduce further to 1340 and 1140 in the years 2 2050 respectively. Annual per -capita water availability of less than 1700 cubic meters is cons as water stresse d condition, whereas annual per -capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is  considered  as  a  water  scarcity  condition.  Due  to  high  temporal  and  spatial  var precipitation,  the  water  availability  of  many  regions  of  the  country  is  much  below the  national average and can be considered as water stressed / water scarce. Total requirement of the country for different uses for high demand scenario for the years 2010 and 2025 has been assessed Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) and 843 BCM respectively. Further, it is projected that in the ye 2050, the country's total water demand is estimated at 1180 BCM , outstripping the total availabilit of 1137 BCM.

(b) Central Water Commission (CWC) under this Ministry is monitoring live storage statu reservoirs of the country on weekly basis and is issuing we ekly bulletin on every Thursday. The bulletins are available on CWC website. The latest bulletin was issued on 12.07.2018. storage available as on 12.07.2018 in the above reservoirs is 38.157 BCM which is 24% of live storage capacity of these reservoirs at Full Reservoir Level. The live storage available reservoirs for the corresponding period of last year was 35.811 BCM and the average of years  live  storage  was  38.504  BCM.    Thus,  the  live  storage  available  in  91  reservoi rs  as  per 12.07.2018  Bulletin is 107% of the live storage of corresponding period of last year a storage of average of last ten years. The reservoir storage/levels varies season wise d usage, rainfall etc.

(c) & (d) CWC has already e stablished National Level Water Information System (India - WRIS). This system has now been upgraded and up - scaled under National Hydrologic Project, a centra sector scheme approved by the Cabinet in April, 2016. The up - scaled system will act as a single window system for water resources related data with the objective of its standardization, analysis and effective dissemination for development of scientific tools for better man water resources.

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