Lok Sabha Question No. 356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-19
Subject: Per Capita Availability of Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 356

ANSWERED ON 19.0 7.201 8

## PER CAPITA AVAILABIL ITY OF WATER

## 356. SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN

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

(a) whether World Bank has indicated that by 2030 India's per capita water availability may shrink to half and push the country into water scarce category from the existing water stress category;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has taken any new initiative/measures to overcome the existi shortage problems in many States and to be ready for future; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHW AL )

(a) & (b) The World Bank has informed that they have not conducted any independent analysis to estimate current or projected per capita water availability in India and such informatio drawn from reputable sources including Government of India and Food and Agriculture Organiz

The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely depend hydro- meteorological and geological factors and is generally constant. As per National Co on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD) report, the total water availability of India received  through  precipitation  is  about  4000  Billion  Cubic  Meter  (BCM)  per  annum. evaporation, 1869 BCM water is available as natural runoff. Due to geological and other f utilizable water availability is limite d to 1137 BCM per annum comprising 690 BCM of surface water and 447 BCM of replenishable ground water.

However, water available per person is dependent on population of the country and f water  availability  per  capita  is  reducing  progressively  du e  to  increase  in  population.  The  average annual per capita water availability in the years 2001 and 2011 was assessed as 1820 cubic 1545 cubic meters respectively which may reduce further to 1340 and 1140 in the years 2025 respectively. Annual per -capita water availability of less than 1700 cubic meters is considered stressed condition, whereas annual per - capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is consid as a water scarcity condition. Due to high temporal and spati variation of precipitation, the wat availability of many region of the country is much below the national average and can be as water stressed / water scarce. Further, it is projected that in the year 2050, the country's total water demand is estimated at 1180 BCM, outstripping the total availability of 1137 BCM.

(c) & (d) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient ma of water resources to ensure sustainability and availability are primarily und ertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement their efforts, Central Government provides tech financial assistance to State Governments through variousschemes and programmes. Central

Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  tackle  water  crisis  through  various  schemes  lik Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, Repair, Renova Restoration  of  water  bodies,  implementation  of  new  projects  like Pancheshwar  Dam,  Polavaram Project, Interlinking of Rivers Project, Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project, etc. Ad non- structural measures have also been taken through the development and augmentation of N Hydrology  Project,  Flood  Fore casting  Stations,  Hydrological  Observation  Stations,  etc.  Deta some of the schemes/programmes are given below:

- Central  Government  launched  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)  in  2015 - 16 which aims to enhance physical access of water on fa rm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservati etc.,  thus  bringing  much  desired  rural  prosperity. It  envisages  end  to  end  solution  in  irrigat supply chain viz. water resources, distribution, efficient application and extension servic
- During  2016 - 17,  99  on - going  Major/Medium  irrigation  projects  under  PMKSY - Accelerated Irrigation  Benefits  Programme  (AIBP)  having  potential  of  76.03  lakh  ha.were prioritized  in consultation with States, for completion in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works.The CADWM programme has been taken up to enhance utilization of irrigation potential created a d improve agriculture production on a sustainable basis through Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM).
- The  Government  of  India  has  also  formulated  a  National  Perspective  Plan  (NPP)  for Resources  Development  which  envisages  transfer  of  water  f rom  surplus  basins  to  water  deficit basins. The inter - basin transfer proposals envisage additional utilization of available wate additional area under irrigation.
- Central  Government  has  formulated  National  Water  Policy  (NWP),  2012  which  inter - al ia recommends  conservation,  promotion  and  protection  of  water  and  highlights  the  ne augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainf management  measures.  The  NWP,  2012  has been  sent  to  all  States/ U nion  Territories and  the concerned Central Ministries for appropriate action.
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a conceptual document titled 'Master Plan for Artificial  Recharge  to  Ground  Water - 2013'  which  provides  information  about  area  sp ecific artificial recharge techniques to augment the ground water resources based on the ava source water and capability of subsurface formations to accommodate it. The Master Plan construction of about 1.11 crore artificial recharge structures in urban and rural areas. The Mast Plan is available in public domain and has also been circulated to the State Governme implementation.
- CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme (NAQUIM) during XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. The Aquifer Mapping is aimed t delineate  aquifer  disposition  and  their  characterization  for  preparation  of  aquifer/ ground water management plans.
- Government has proposed 'Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY)' with the aim to improve ground water management in select over - exploited and ground water stressed areas in identified priority (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) implementation  o f  various  interventions  to  ensure  long - term  sustainability  of  ground  water resources with community participation.