Lok Sabha Question No. 2448 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-05
Subject: Ground Water Level in Bihar
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Mahabali Singh

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2448 ANSWERED ON 0 5.0 3.2020

## GROUND WATER LEVEL I N BIHAR

## †2448. SHRI MAHABALI SINGH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the details of ground water level in Bihar during the last three years;

(b) whether the Government provides any financial/ technical assistance to check depletion o level and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government is aware of grave situation which may occur in future due to dep water level in Bihar and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a)  & (c)  Ground  water  levels  in  various  parts  of  the  Country  are  declining  because  o withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagari increased population, industrialization & urbanization, e tc.

Central Ground Water Board is periodically monitoring the ground water levels thro Country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. The depth to water level in the Bih during last three years (Pre - monsoon 2017, 2018 & 2019) mostly ranged from less than 2.0 to less th metres below ground level (mbgl).

The Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being periodically assessed j Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. As per the 2017 assessment, in Bihar, out of the total 534 assessment units (Blocks), 12 units have been categorized as 'Over -exploited' where Annual Ground Water Extraction is more than Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource, 18 units as 'Critical', 72 units as 'Semi Critical' and remaining blocks are categorized as 'Safe'.

In order to assess the decline in water level on a long - term basis, Pre - monsoon water level data of Bihar collected by CGWB during Pre - monsoon 2019 has been compared with the decadal average (20 -2018). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 68% of the wells monitored have re in ground water levels, mostly in the range of 0 -2 m.

(b)  Water  being  a  State  subject,  initiatives  on  water  management  including  conservatio harvesting in the Country is primarily States' responsibility. However, the important measures taken by th Central Government for conservation, management o f ground water and effective implementation of water harvesting in the country are at the following URL:

http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps\_to

In addition, a number of States have done notable work in the field conservation/harvesting.  Of these, mention can be made of 'Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan' in Rajasthan, 'Jalyukt Shibar' in Maharashtra, 'Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan' in Gujarat, 'Mission Kakatiya' in Telangana,  Neeru  Chettu'  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  Jal  Jeevan  Hariyali  in  Bihar,  'Jal  Hi  Jeevan'  in  Haryana among others.

Central Government supports construction of water harvesting and conservati on works primarily through  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  and  Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana Watershed Development Component (PMKSY- WDC).

\_control\_water\_depletion\_Jun2019.pdf . -

The expenditure incurred on water related works taken up under MGNREGA during last three years  and  current  year  as  uploaded  by  the  States  in  the  MIS  after  following  due  proc Programme is Rs . 79686.58 Cr.

Department of Land Resources has sanctioned, 8214 watershed development projects in (except Goa) (now 27 States and UT of J&K and Ladakh), including Bihar, during the period - 10 to 2014- 15  covering  an  area  of  about  39.07  million  hectare  under Integrated  Watershed  Management Programme (IWMP) /PMKSY -WDC in 2015-16. Since inception, Rs. 18760.56 Cr. has been released as Central share to the States, as on 28.02.2020.

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