Lok Sabha Question No. 2103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-04
Subject: Addressing Water Crisis
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2103

ANSWERED ON 04 .0 7.2019

## ADDRESSING WATER CRI SIS

## 2103. DR. SANJAY JAISWAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the findings by the NITI Aayog which suggest that the facing the worst water crisis in history;

(b) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to augment the water supply in the country; and (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Yes, Sir.

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

The  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  has  been  created  by  the  Government  of  India,  integr erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the Mini Drinking Water and Sanitation, with an aim to integrate water resourc es management under one umbrella so  that  the  issues  relating  to  water  are  dealt  with  in  a  holistic  manner.  Recently,  the  Hon'ble  PM  has personally addressed letters to all sarpanches in the country motivating them to take up wat activities.

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.

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.

Central  Government  has  launched Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY) for completion of 99 on -going Major/Medium irrigation projects having ultimate irrigation potential lakh hectares.

Central  Government  has  formulated  National  Water  Policy  (NWP),  2012  which  inter - alia recommends conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augm availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other manage The NWP, 2012 has been sent to all States/ Uni on Territories and the concerned Central Ministries appropriate action.

Through centrally sponsored scheme, National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP technical and financial assistance are provided to States for providing safe drinking water n rural areas. 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  Rejuvenation  and Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT)  in  500  cities  with  Mission  components  such  as  water  supply, water drainage, etc. The water supply component includes augmentation of existing water sup and water treatment plants; rehabilit ation of old water supply system; rejuvenation of water bodi drinking water supply and recharging of ground water, etc.

Some initiatives/measures taken by Central Government to control water depletion and 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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