Lok Sabha Question No. 3748 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: Water Crisis
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 3748

ANSWERED ON 03.01 .201 9

## WATER CRISIS

## 3748. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA

Will  the  Minister  of  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that India is suffering from the worst water crisis;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State - wise;

(c) whether it is true that huge number of people die every year due to inadequate access to sa water;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the action being taken by the Government to cope up with the water crisis in the cou

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES, RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) to (d) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dep upon  hydro - meteorological  and  geological  factors  and  is  generally  constant.  However,  w availability per person is dependent on population of the country and for India, per capita water availability in the country is reducing progressively due to increase in population. T annual  per  capita  water  availability  in  the  years  2001  and  2011  was  assessed  as  181 meters and 1545 cubic meters respectively which may reduce further to 1340 and 1140 in the years 2025 and 2050 respectively. Annual per - capita water availability of less than 1700 cubic meters is considered as water stressed condition, whereas annual per - capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is considered as a water scarcity condition. Due to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation, the water availability of many region s of the country is much below the national average and can be considered as water stressed / water scarce.

The  average  annual  water  potential  in  the  country  has  been  assessed  as  1869  Bi Cubic Meters (BCM). Due to topographical and other factors, the utilizable water availa limited to 1137 BCM per annum, comprising of 690 BCM of surface water and 4 47 BCM of replenishable ground water. Further, NationalCommission on Integrated Water Resources

Development  (NCIWRD)  have  mentioned  in  their  report  that  taking  into  account  the  wa availability and the requirements in India, which h s been assessed as 843 BCM in the year 2025 and 1180 BCM in 2050, there is no need to take an alarmist view.

The  report titled  'Composite  Water  Management  Index' published  by  NITI  Aayog referred  to  estimates  of  the  Global  Health  Observatory  Data  R epository  of  World  Health Organization  which  states  that  nearly  2  lakh people  die  every  year due  to  inadequate/unsafe water in India.

(e) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient mana of water resources includ ing tackling of water crisis are primarily undertaken by the respe State  Governments.  In  order  to  supplement  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments,  C Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various scheme progr ammes. Central Government has taken various steps to tackle water crisis in the coun

Central  Government  has  formulated  a  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  for  Wat Resources Development which envisages transfer of water from water surplus basins to er deficit basins to improve availability of water.

Central Government has launch ed Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana(PMKSY) in 2015- 16 which aims to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable under  assured  irrigation,  improve  farm  water  use  efficiency,  introduce  sustainable conservation  practices,  etc.  During  2016 - 17,  99  on - going  Major/Me dium  irrigation  projects under  PMKSY - Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  (AIBP)  having  ultimate  irrigat potential of 76.03 lakh hectares have been prioritized in consultation with States, for in phases up to December, 2019.

conservation the

U

Some initia tives/measures taken by the Central Government for and improvement of availability of ground water are available at http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/MeasuresForGW - Depletion\_1.pdf

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