Lok Sabha Question No. 3180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-11
Subject: Water Problems
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3180

ANSWERED ON 11

## WATER PROBLEMS

## 3180.     SHRI SRIRANGA APPA BARNE SHRI VINAYAK RAUT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the whole country is in a severe grip of shortage of water and if so, the details

(b) whether there is a need to prioritise and make appropriate interventions to solv water problems in the country and if so, the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard;

(c) whether it is a fact that water, conservation and irrigation both require a massive effo participation and if so, the steps taken by th e Union Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Union Government has requested the State Governments to integrate their effo conservation and management; and

(e) if so, the response of the State Governments thereto and the plan prepared by the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a)  The  average  annual  water  availability  of  any  region  or  country  is  largely  dependent -meteorological and geological factors and is generally constant. However, water availability dependent  on  population  of  the  country  and  for  Ind ia,  per  capita  water  availability  in  the  count reducing progressively due to increase in population. The average annual per capita water a the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1816 cubic meters and 1545 cubic meters respectiv may further reduce to 1486 cubic meters, 1367 cubic meters, 1282 cubic meters and 1228 cubic the years 2021, 2031, 2041 and 2051 respectively. Annual per - capita water availability of less than 1 cubic meters is considered as water stressed co ndition, whereas annual per -capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is considered as a water scarcity condition. Due to high temporal and spa of precipitation, the water availability of many regions of the country is much below the national average and may result in water stress / scarce conditions.

(b) to (e) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient ma water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to su efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to t through various schemes and programmes. Central Government has taken various steps to solvewater related problems in the country.

## .0 7.2019

Ministry of Jal Shakti has been created by the Governmen t 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 integrate water resources management under one umbrella issues relatin g to water are dealt with 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 will work together with State and district officials in India's most water - stressed districts for water conservation and water resource management.

Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  has  written  a  letter  to  all  sarpanchs  on  08.06.2019  regarding  the importance of water conservation and harvesting and exhorted them to adopt all appropriate make  water  co nservation  a  mass  movement.  This  will  help  people  to  work  for  rain  water  har maintenance and upkeep of ponds and village tanks and conservation of water.

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.

Through National Rural Drinking Wate r Programme (NRDWP), a centrally sponsored scheme, technical and financial assistance are provided to States for providing safe drinking water The NRDWP has been restructured to make it more competitive, result oriented and outcome reduce the slippages and inefficiencies in the rural drinking water supply.

Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  is  implementing  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenati Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT)  in  500  cities  with  mission  components  such  as  water  supply, torm water drainage, etc. The water supply component includes augmentation of existing water sup and water treatment plants; rehabilitation of old water supply system; rejuvenation of wa drinking  water  supply  and  recharging  of  groun d  water  etc.  The  Ministry  has  also  issued  guideli 'Guidelines  for  Urban  Water  Conservation'  to  all  the  States/UTs  to  undertake  water  conservation measures.

A meeting of the State Ministers in - charge of Water Resources, Water Supply and Sanitatio was h eld on 11 th June 2019 to review the steps taken by various States on water conservation implementation of action plans for dealing with the water supply situation, plan for water conservation in convergence with other programmes. The need to integrate various water conservatio efforts  like  point  recharge,  de - silting  of  minor  irrigation  tanks,  use  of  grey  water  for  agricu ensuring sustainability of the sources was discussed. State Governments were requested to co conservation  measures  so  that  large - scale  rain  water  harvesting  could  be  possible  in  the  upc monsoon season.

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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