Lok Sabha Question No. 3093 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-11
Subject: Silt Accumulation in Water Bodies
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Pintu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †30 93

ANSWERED ON 11 .0 7.2019

## SILT ACCUMULATION IN WATER BODIES

†3093. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether rain water is not getting harvested due to accumulation of silt in the rivers, - reservoi s, ponds etc. in the country specially in Sitamarhi district of Bihar resulting in the depletio of ground wat r level considerably; and

(b) if so, the details of the schemes made/being made to resolve this problem and to mainta ground water?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

( a) to  (b)  Siltation  in  the  rivers  and  water  bodies  may  affect  the  percolation  of  water  a ground water. However, ground water levels mainly decline because of continuous withdrawa reasons  such  as  increased  demand  of  fresh  wa ter  for  various  uses,  vagaries  of  rainfall,  inc population, industrialization & urbanization etc.

Water  being  a  State  subject,  initiatives  on  water  management  including  conservation  an recharge  to  ground  water  in  the  Country  is  primarily States'  responsibility.  However,  the  Central Government has taken up important long term policy initiatives for conservation of ground wa water  harvesting  to  recharge  ground  water  in  order  to  control  depletion  of  ground  water count ry which are available at http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps\_to\_control\_water\_depletion\_Jun2019.pdf

Central Government supports construction of wate r harvesting and conservation works primarily throu Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchayeeYojana -Watershed Development Component (PMKSY- WDC) and PMKSY - Per Drop More Crop.  Under  these  Scheme s,  17,56,207  water  conservation  and  recharging  structures  have constructed at an expenditure of Rs. 23,435.67 crore in the last three years. The details o under MGNREGS in the district of Sitamarhi in the State of Bihar during 2018 - 19 are as under:

| Renovation of traditional water         | Renovation of traditional water   | Water Conservation and Water                | Water Conservation and Water   |
|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Completed & Spillover works PHY. (Nos.) | Expenditure made lakhs)           | (in Completed & Spillover works PHY. (Nos.) | Expenditure made lakhs)        |
| 53                                      | 36.68                             | 542                                         | 301.1                          |

Further,  the  Repair,  Renovation  and  Restoration  (RRR)  of  Water  Bodies  Scheme  under  P MantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana  (PMKSY)  aims  at  increasing  irrigation  potential  by  improveme restoration  of  water  bodies  along  with  other  multiple  objectives  such as  enhancing  the  tank  storage capacity,  ground  water  recharge  etc.  Scope  of  works  under  the  scheme  includes  desilting conveyance system, strengthening of bunds etc.

Under the RRR of Water Bodies scheme, a total of 2064 water bodies (including 27 water bodies from State of Bihar) with an estimated cost of ₹ 1765 crore have been taken up for restoration in various S tate since  XII  Plan  onwards,  out  of  which  1160  water  bodies  have  been  reported  to  be  comple potential  restoration  of  0.88  Lakh hectareupto  March,  2019.  Total  Central  Assistance  amounting  t ₹ 369.11 crore (including ₹ 6.255 crore to the State of Bihar) has been released to the States up 2019 for completion of works of these water bodies.

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