Lok Sabha Question No. 3938 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-12
Subject: Water Crisis
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rajesh Verma

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3938

ANSWERED ON 12 .12 .2019

## WATER CRISIS

## †3938. SHRI RAJESH VERMA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to tackle the water crisis in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c) whether the Government has any plan to create awareness amongst people about water conservation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## )

(a) to (d) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient man water  resources  including  tackling  of  water  crisis  are  primarily  undertaken  by  the  res Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State G overnments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes. Central G has taken various steps to tackle water crisis in the country.

Ministry of Jal Shakti has been created by the Gov ernment of India, integrating the erstwhi Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of D Water and Sanitation, with an aim to deal with the issues relating to water in a holistic manner.

Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  has  launched  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan  (JSA) - a campaign  for  water conservation and water security. During the campaign, officers, groundwater experts and sci the Government of India worked together with State and District off icials in India's most water - stressed districts for water conservation and water resource management. JSA aims at making water conservation a 'Jan Andolan' through asset creation and communication campaign.

Central Government has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Res Development  which  envisages  transfer  of  water  from  water  surplus  basins  to  water  defici improve availability of water.

Pradhan  Mantri Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  (PMKSY)  is  under  implementation  with  an  aim enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation farm  water  use  efficiency,  introduce  sustainable  water  conservation  practices  etc. Under  PMKSY -Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  (AIBP)  component,  99  on -going Major/Medium  irrigation projects having ultimate irrigation potential of 76.03 lakh hectares have been prioritized with States for completion in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works.

Department  of  Water  Resources,  RD  &  GR  is  making  efforts  to  create  awareness  am people about water conservation. Social Media platforms are actively engage d in promoting the cause of water conservation. Story telling episodes based on water conservation were broadcast on rad A competition named -"Water Heroes -Share your stories" is currently going on to create conscio on water conservati on. National Water Awards have been initiated to recognize efforts made in for water conservation/management.

National Water Mission (NWM) has initiated a seminar series in March, 2019 -'Water Talk' -to promote dialogue and information sharing among participants on variety of water related topics. 'Water Talk' is intended to create awareness, build capacities of stakeholders and to encourage people to become active participants in the conservation and saving of water. NWM is also conductin g regional conventions  of  Water  Users  Associations  with  the  overall  objective  of  water  conservation efficiency in irrigation sector, etc. NWM has launched a campaign 'Sahi Fasal' to nudge farmers to go for crops which use less water and efficien tly also. Under this campaign workshops were held recentl Amritsar and Delhi on 'Increasing Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture' with the theme 'Sahi Fasal'.

Government  of  India  launched  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transform (AMRUT) o n 25 th June, 2015 in select 500 cities across the country with focus on developmen civic amenities in the Mission cities. Under the water supply component of the Mission, proj rain water harvesting, rejuvenation of water bodies spe cifically for drinking water supply, rechargin ground water, etc., can be taken up by the States/UTs to enhance water supply in the Mission

The  Government  of  India  has  launched  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM),  which  aims  at  pro functional house hold tap connections to every rural household by 2024 at the service level of capita per day. This Mission will focus on integrated demand and supply side management of w local level, including creation of local infrastructure for s ource sustainability like rainwater harvesti groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse in agriculture.

Some initiatives/measures taken by Central Government to control ground water deple promote rain water harvesting / conservation are available at the URL: http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps\_to\_control\_water\_depletion\_Jun2019.pdf

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