Lok Sabha Question No. 4275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-19
Subject: Depleting Groundwater Table
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Balak Nath

## †4275. SHRI BALAK NATH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  groundwater  table  is  continuously  depletin districts of Rajasthan including Alwar district;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has formulated an y scheme for water harvesting and water conservatio
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of efforts being made for rain water harvesting through small ponds and st rural areas;
- (e) whether the Government is also taking the as sistance of private institutions in rain water harvest (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is periodically monitoring the ground water levels th the Country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. In order to assess the decline i water level on a long - term basis, Pre - monsoon water le vel data collected by CGWB during Pre - monsoon 2019 has been compared with the decadal average (2009 - 2018). Analysis of water level data indicates about  61%  of  the  wells  monitored  have  registered  decline  in  ground  water  l evels,  mostly  in  the  range of 0 -2 m.

In the state of Rajasthan, 66% of the wells show decline in water level, out of whic wells show more than 4m decline. In the district of Alwar , 89% of the wells analysed show decline ground water level, out of which 68 % wells show decline in more than 4 m range.

(b) & (c) Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management including conservat harvesting in the Country is primarily States' responsibility. Further, to supplement the efforts of the S Governments, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to encourage development and efficient management of water resources through var ious schemes and programmes.

Further, a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservatio 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.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.

ANSWERED ON 1

## †4275 9.0 3.2020

## DEPLETING GROUNDWATE R TABLE

Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), a time bound campaign with a mission mode  approach  intended  to  improve  water  availability  including  ground  water  conditions  i stressed blocks of 256 districts in India. In this regard, teams of officers from Central G -withtechnical officers from Ministry of Jal Shakti were deputed to visit water stressed dist in close collaboration with district level officials to undertake suitable interventions. Further, to promote water conservation and water resource m anagement, five target interventions viz. water conservat rainwater  harvesting,  renovation  of  traditional  &  other  water - bodies/tanks,  reuse  and  recharge  of  bor -wells, watershed development and intensive afforestation etc implemented.

In addition, Go vernment of India has approved Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs. 600 Central  Sector  Scheme,  for  sustainable  management  of  ground  water  resources  with  co participation. Atal Jal is  being  implemented  in  78  water  stressed  districts  of  Seven  States  vi Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

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

The expenditure made in  Water Conservation & Water Harvesting under MGNREGS during last year  and current year in the State of Rajasthan & Alwar district as uploaded by the after following due procedures of the programme is  as under:

| Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - RAJASTHAN (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - RAJASTHAN (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - RAJASTHAN (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - RAJASTHAN (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - RAJASTHAN (as on 16th March 2020)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                | COMPLETED                                                                                                      | COMPLETED                                                                                                      | ONGOING                                                                                                        | ONGOING                                                                                                        |
| RAJASTHAN                                                                                                      | Number of works                                                                                                | Expenditure in lakhs                                                                                           | Number of works                                                                                                | Expenditure in lakhs                                                                                           |
| 2019- 20                                                                                                       | 9030                                                                                                           | 17957.03                                                                                                       | 42635                                                                                                          | 142138                                                                                                         |
| 2018- 19                                                                                                       | 8833                                                                                                           | 41031.14                                                                                                       | 37825                                                                                                          | 71704.03                                                                                                       |

| Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - ALWAR DISTRICT (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - ALWAR DISTRICT (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - ALWAR DISTRICT (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - ALWAR DISTRICT (as on 16th March 2020)   | Water Conservation and Water Harvesting works under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA - ALWAR DISTRICT (as on 16th March 2020)   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                     | COMPLETED                                                                                                           | COMPLETED                                                                                                           | ONGOING                                                                                                             | ONGOING                                                                                                             |
| ALWAR DISTRICT                                                                                                      | Number of works                                                                                                     | Expenditure in lakhs                                                                                                | Number of works                                                                                                     | Expenditure in lakhs                                                                                                |
| 2019- 20                                                                                                            | 756                                                                                                                 | 784.41                                                                                                              | 1937                                                                                                                | 3721.57                                                                                                             |
| 2018- 19                                                                                                            | 264                                                                                                                 | 1908.81                                                                                                             | 1342                                                                                                                | 1561.21                                                                                                             |

sust

The other important measures taken by the Central Government towards management  of  ground  water  in  the  country  are  given  at  the  following  URL: http://  mowr.gov.in/ sites/default/ files/ Steps \_to\_ control \_water\_ depletion\_ Jun 2019.pdf .

- (d) The Farm ponds and wells completed in all States/UTs under MGNREGS last year  and curren uploaded by the States in the MIS after following due procedures of the progra mme is  as under:
- (e) No Sir.
- (f) Question does not arise in view of reply in para (e)

| Farm Pond & Well completed under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS (as on 16th March, 2020)   | Farm Pond & Well completed under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS (as on 16th March, 2020)   | Farm Pond & Well completed under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS (as on 16th March, 2020)   | Farm Pond & Well completed under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS (as on 16th March, 2020)   | Farm Pond & Well completed under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS (as on 16th March, 2020)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                  | 2019- 20                                                                         | 2019- 20                                                                         | 2018- 19                                                                         | 2018- 19                                                                         |
|                                                                                  | Number of works completed                                                        | Total Expenditure in Lakhs                                                       | Number of works completed                                                        | Total Expenditure in Lakhs                                                       |
| ALL STATES/Uts                                                                   |                                                                                  |                                                                                  |                                                                                  |                                                                                  |
| Farm Pond                                                                        | 187302                                                                           | 255595                                                                           | 347128 115003                                                                    | 301973.1 206085.5                                                                |
| Well                                                                             | 86286                                                                            | 183784                                                                           |                                                                                  |                                                                                  |

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