Lok Sabha Question No. 957 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-27
Subject: Water Storage Level
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Supriya Sadanand Sule, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 957

ANSWERED ON 2 7.06.2019

## WATER STORAGE LEVEL

| 957.   | SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE        | SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA   |
|--------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
|        | DR. HEENA GAVIT              | DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE |
|        | SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE | DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE    |

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the water storage level in major reservoirs of the country as on date;

(b) the details of the criteria fixed by the Union Government to calculate water storage in ma across the country;

(c) whether the water storage available in major reservoirs of the country has gone down by 1% last one year and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  worked  out  any  strategy  and  held  consultation  wi tate Governments to meet the challenge of scarcity of water during the ensuing summer season, details thereof; and

(e)  whether any  steps  have  been  taken  or  are  to  be  taken  to  maintain  the  requisite  level reservoirs throughout the year and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) to (e) Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors live storage status of 91 reservoirs of and  issues  weekly  bulletin  on  every  Thursday.  As  per  latest  bulletin  dated  20.06.2019, available  in  these  reservoirs  is  27.265  bil lion  cu ic  meter  (BCM),  which  is  17%  of  total  live  sto capacity of these reservoirs. The live storage available in these reservoirs is 92% of th corresponding period of last year and 93% of live storage of average of last ten years.

From the storage elevation curve for each reservoir, storage corresponding to actual calculated. The requisite water levels in the reservoirs are maintained by the dam authori generally  State  Governments,  Central  and  State  pow er  generating  PSUs,  Municipalities  and  privat companies etc., through a determination of rainfall, flood levels and water demands.

The main reasons for the decline in storage are low rainfall in catchment area and during  the  period.  To  overc m   the  situation,  CWC  issued  advisories  to  the  concerned  S Governments/UT's for judicious use of available water to avoid any distress to people.

Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management & conservation including n water harvesting  is  primarily  States'  responsibility.  Central  Government  supports  construction  of  water harvesting  and  conservation  works  primarily  through  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Emplo Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  aided  by  Pradhan  Mantri  Krish i  Sinchayee  Yojana -Watershed Development  Component  (PMKSY - WDC)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana -Per  Drop More  Crop.  Under  these  Schemes,  during  the  last  three  years,  17,56,027  water  harves conservations works ha ve been completed for wh ich Rs. 23,435.67 crore was released as Central share.

Other  measures  taken  by  the  Central  Government  to  control  water  depletion  and  prom water harvesting / conservation are at the following URL:

http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps\_to\_control\_water\_depletion\_Jun2019.pdf

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