Lok Sabha Question No. 697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-21
Subject: Judicious Use of Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 697

## ANSWERED ON 21.11 .2019

## JUDICIOUS USE OF WAT ER

## 697. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps with regard to prevention of wastage and unsc of water in agriculture on large scale and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Governme nt has taken any steps to check massive wastage of water in public faci public toilets, railways, bus stations, tourist places and so on and if so, the details there

(c) whether the Government plans to outsource infrastructure management for water conservation and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the steps being taken to make public infrastructure water efficient in India?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) The Government has taken a number of steps with regard to prevention of wastage and uns use of water in agriculture. Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is im 'Per Drop More Crop' component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinch ayee Yojna (PMKSY) which mainly focuses  on  enhancing  water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through  precision/micro - irr gation  (Drip  and sprinkler  irrigation).  It  also  supports  micro  level  water  storage  or  water  conservati activities to supplement micro irrigation.

Recently, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation u Ministry of Jal Shakti has conducted a w orkshop in coordination with Government of Punjab at Amritsar on 14.11.2019 on 'Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture' with emphasis on choosing 'Sahi Fasal' which uses less water for cropping.

A study for National Water Use Efficiency Improvement Support Program for Major/ Me Irrigation projects has been completed with the help of Asian Development Bank.

Un der Namami Gange programme, a flagship programme for rejuvenation of Ganga, initi are being taken for sustainable agriculture with a focus on improving water - use efficiency in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welf are and State Governments.

For efficient distribution of available water, the use of Piped Distribution Netw being  promoted.  Central  Water  Commission  has  prepared  guidelines  for  proper  planning,  de implementation of Piped Irrigation Ne twork and the same were circulated to States for reference i 2017.

Central  Water  Commission  is  conducting  Performance  Evaluation  Studies  and  Water Efficiency Studies of completed irrigation projects in India for optimum utilization of water resources. S far, 137 numbers of Performance Evaluation Studies and 35 numbers of Water Use Efficiency S major and medium irrigation projects from various regions/states of the country have been completed.  In  thi s  regard,  the  guidelines  for  performance  evaluation  study  and  improving  wa efficiency  of  irrigation  projects  have  been  published  in  the  years  2002  and  2014  resp circulated to all the State Governments, concerned Central Ministries and ot her beneficiaries.

The  "General  Guidelines  for  Water  Audit  &  Water  Conservation'  was  prepared  by  Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board in December, 2005 and circulated among al State Governments. The objectives of these guidelines a re to introduce, standardize and popularize water  audit  system  for  conservation  of  water  in  all  sectors  of  water  use  and  improve  t efficiency.

Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development has requested States neces sary steps on water conservation and water harvesting with emphasis on micro - irrigation initiatives.

(b) to (d) In order to ensure systematic approach in water management, 'Indian Railway Water Policy' has been issued by Railway Board in 2017. Indian Rail ways h ve been establishing water recycle plants main consumption centers wherever it is economically viable and installing rain water harves wherever  it  is  feasible.  Indian  Railways  is  also  conducting  water  audits  at  major  water centers. To check the wastage of water, inspections are carried out at regular interval s.

The  Government  has  decided  that  the  thermal  power  plants,  including  the  existin located within 50 km radius of sewage treatment plant of municipalities/l ocal bodies/similar organizations shall, in the order of their closeness to the sewage treatment plant, mandatorily use treat produced by these bodies.

The  Government  has  approved  adoption  of  hybrid  annuity  Public  Private  Partnership model for the sewage treatment infrastructure under Namami Gange Programme wherein efforts a to identify and develop a market for the treated water so as to reduce the demand on riveri A  sewage  treatment  plant  project  has  been  taken up  at  Mathura  Refinery  under  Namami  Gange programme with provision of recycling and reuse of treated waste water.

National Water Mission has requested all Ministries/Departments of Government of take  necessary  steps  to  avoid  water  wastage  and  to install  water  saving  aerators  on  water  taps  in buildings under their administrative control.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) encourages Urban Lo Bodies (ULBs) for rain water harvesting and recycle/reuse of waste water . The cities are also encouraged to make water system more efficient by reducing unaccounted water (non - revenue water) to less than 20 percent, which is also a part of the reforms to be implemented by the States/ULBs under the M

The Ministry of Rur al Development has issued an advisory to State Governments and Un Territories dealing with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna -Gramin (PMAY -G) to encourage beneficiaries of PMAY - G  to  install  roof - top  rain  water  harvesting  system  in  the  houses  constructed  under Phase - II  of PMAY - G .