Lok Sabha Question No. 1711 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-20
Subject: Per Capita Availability of Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: HARISH DWIVEDI

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO.

## †1711 ANSWERED ON 20.12 .201 8

## PER CAPITA AVAILABIL ITY OF WATER

## †1711. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI

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

(a) whether per capita availability of water is decreasing in the country and if so, thereof;

(b) whether any survey has been conducted by th e Government in this regard in each district of the country;

(c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  identify  new  water  resources  in  each  State country along with the outcome of the same; and

(e) t he other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to improve the availabi water in the country?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely depende hydro- meteorological  and  geological  factors  and  is  generally  constant.  However,  w availability  per  person  is  dependent  on  population  of  the  country  and  for  Ind ia;  per  capita availability of water is reducing progressively due to increase in population. The aver per capita water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1816 cubic me 1545 cubic meters respectively which may reduce further to 1340 and 1140 in the years 2025 and 2050 respectively.

(b) & (c) Central Government has not conducted any survey regarding per capita availabi water district - wise.

(d)  & (e)  Water  being  a  State  subject,  steps  for  augmentation,  conservation  and  ef management of water resources including identification of new sources of water are pr undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the eff orts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them th various  schemes  and  programmes.  Central  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  impro availability of water in the country.

Central  Government  ha s  formulated  a  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  for  Water Resources Development which envisages transfer of water from water surplus basins to deficit basins to improve availability of water.

Central Government has launch ed PradhanMantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) in 2015- 16 which aims to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable under  assured  irrigation,  improve  farm  water  use  efficiency,  introduce  sustainable conservation  practices,  etc.  During 2016- 17,  99  on - going  Major/Medium  irrigation  projects under  PMKSY - Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  (AIBP)  having  ultimate  irrigat potential  of  76.03  lakh  hectares  and  balance  estimated  cost  of  Rs.77,595  crore  ( Assistance Rs.31342.50 cro re) have been prioritized in consultation with States, for compl in  phases  up  to  December,  2019  along  with  their  Command  Area  Development  &  Water Management (CADWM) works. Funding mechanism through NABARD has been approved by the Government for both C entral and State share.

Central Government has formulated National Water Policy (NWP) , 2012 which inter - alia recommends conservation,  promotion  and  protection  of water  and  highlights the  need  for augmenting the availability of waterthrough rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall a other management measures. The NWP, 2012 hasbeen sentto all States/ Union Territories and the concerned Central Ministries for appropriate action.

Some other initiatives/measures taken by the Cen tral Government for conservation and improvement of availability of ground water are as under:

- Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  prepared  a  conceptual  document  titled 'Master Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to  Ground  Water  in  India'  during  the  year  2013 envisaging  construction  of  1.11  crore  Rainwater  Harvesting  and  Artificial  Rec structures  in  urban  and  rural  areas.  The  Master  Plan  has  been  circulated  to  a Governments for implementation.
- CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQU IM) programme from the XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. Aquife Mapping  is  aimed  at  delineating  aquifer  disposition  and  their  characterizati preparation of aquifer/area specific ground water management plans.
- The Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them t suitable  ground  water  legislation  for  regulation  of  its  development,  which  i provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implem t he ground water legislation on the lines of Model Bill.
- Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3 (3) the 'Environment (Protection) Act, 1986' for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and ma nagement in the Country. So far, CGWA has notified 162  areas  in  the  country  where  ground  water  withdrawal  through  new  abstract structures is not permitted, except for drinking and domestic uses.