Lok Sabha Question No. 3094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-12
Subject: Shortage of Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3094

ANSWERED ON 12

## .0 3.2020

## SHORTAGE OF WATER

## †3094. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is acute shortage of water in most parts of the country;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether there is any problem of water management in the country;

(d) if so, the detail s thereof; and

(e) the remedial measures being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) & (b) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependent upon hydro -meteorological and geological factors. However, water availability per person is dependent o the  country  and  for  India,  per  capita  water  availability  in  the  country  is  reducing  du population. The average annual per capita water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was 1816 cubic meters and 1545 cubic meters respectively which may further reduce to 1486 cubic year  2021.  Annual  per -capita  water  availability  of  less  than 1700  cubic  meters  is  considered  as  wat stressed condition, whereas annual per -capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is conside water scarcity condition. Due to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation, the w ty in many  regions  of  the  country  is  below  the  national  average  and  may  be  facing  water  str conditions.

(c) to (e) The country is facing a number of challenges in water management such as high tem spatial variability in respect of av ailability of water resources, declining per - capita water availability due increase in population, inadequate water storage for meeting future water demands, over - exploitation  of ground water resources, droughts, low water use efficiency, etc.

Water be ing a State subject, measures for management of water resources is primaril respective State Governments. Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Gove providing technical and financial assistance through various schemes and programmes. Central Government has taken various steps for management of water.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), a campaign for water conservation and water security, was Ministry of Jal Shakti in water - stressed districts of the country.

Central  Government  has  formulated  a  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  for  Water  R Development which envisages transfer of water from water surplus basins to water deficit b inter - linking of rivers.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is being implemented with an aim to cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce s conservation practices, etc.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is implementing Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Transformation  (AMRUT)  in  500  cities  with  mission  components  such  as  water  supply,  sto drainage,  etc.  The  water  supply  component  includes  augmentation  of  existing  water  supp ly  system and water treatment plants; rehabilitation of old water supply system; rejuvenation of water bodi

The  Government  of  India  has  launched  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM),  which  aims  at  p functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024 at the service level of 55 lit capita per day.

Some initiatives/measures taken by Central Government to control water depletion an rain water harvesting / conservation are available at the URL:

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

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