Lok Sabha Question No. 2728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-27
Subject: Composite Water Management Index
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2728 ANSWERED ON 27.12 .201 8

## COMPOSITE WATER MANA GEMENT INDEX

## 2728. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL SHRI D.K. SURESH

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

(a) whether the Government has prepared a report on Composite Water Management Index (CW and if so, the details and the findings thereof;

(b)  whether  it  is  true  that  water  stress  causes  deterioration  of  fresh  water  resources -exploitation of ground water, dry rivers, etc. and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  special  measures  to  address  the  iss ues  of  ground  water, restoration of water bodies, irrigation, farm practices, drinking water, policy and governa (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) The NITI Aayog has prepared a report on Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)and it is available on NITI Aayog's website under URL http://social.niti.gov.in/wtr - ranking. The purpose of the exercise i s to (i) establish a baseline and bench mark for state level performance on key wat (ii) uncover and explain how States have p rogressed on water issues over time, including identifyi high performers and under -performers thereby including a culture of constructive competition states and (iii) identify areas of deeper engagement and inv estmenton the part of the State.

The report ranked Gujarat on the best performing state whereas Rajasthan was ranked numbe one in term of incremental improvement.

(b) The average annual water resources potential in the country is assessed as 1869 Bil Meters (BCM).  The increase in po pulation, agricultural and industrial demands results in reduc per capita water availability. In 1951, the per capita water availability was about 5,177 year. On the basis of the population indicated in 2011 census, the per capita wa t r availability works out  to  about  1,545  cubic  meter  per  year.    Thus, the  per capita average  annual  water availability in thecountry is reducing progressively due to increase in population, thereby causing water In case the available water resou rces potential of the country is not optimally developed and the in demands of population, agriculture and industrial growth is not properly managed, the c water stress can cause deterioration of fresh water resources.

Wate

(c ) & ( d)  Yes,  the Government has taken a number of measures to address the issues of grou restoration of water - bodies, irrigation, farm practices, drinking water etc.  National Water Policy (2012) advocates the need for augmenting the availabilit y of water through rain water harvesting, direct us rainfall and other management measures. Th Union Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR (MoWR, RD & GR) has circulated a Model Bill to all the States to enable them to enact suitable legislation  including  rain  water  harvesting. Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  prepared  a conceptual Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water. C entral  Ground  Water  Authority (CGWA)  has  been  constituted  under  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986. Ministr y  ofU r ban D evelop m ent has circulated Model Bui l dingB ye Laws (2016)which includes pr ovis i on for R ainwater H arv est i ng.  Department of Land Resources is currently implementing watershed development pro 28 States under Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchayeeYojna (PMKSY). The ongoing key programmes of MoWR, RD & GR, whereby management of water is sought to be continuously improved, inc Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Command Area Development & Management (CADWM), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) Water  Bodies  and  Flood  Management  &  Border  Area  Programme  (FMBAP).    Further,  aiming  fo nation - wide water reforms, the Union Ministry is also striving for bringing consensus on c initiatives  including  National  Water  Framework,  River  Basin  Managem ent,  Inter - basin  Transfer  of River Water and Improving Water - use Efficiency.

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