Lok Sabha Question No. 4218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-19
Subject: Scheme for Improvement of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4218 ANSWERED ON 1 9.0 3.2020

## SCHEME FOR IMPROVEME NT OF GROUND WATER

## †4218. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has formulated a new scheme for improvement in the ground wate country with the help of World Bank;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  G overnment  also  plans  to  make  legislation  for  use  of  water  in  the  country Bundelkhand and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the details of the efforts being made by the Government with Non -Governmental Organisation and other organisations for c reating awareness about the use of water?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a) & (b) The Government has approved Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs. 6000 Crore Central Sector Scheme, for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation. Th pattern is 50:50 between Government of India and World Bank.

The  scheme  has  two  components,  viz.  i)  Institutional  Strengthening  and  Capacity Component, aimed at strengthening the ground water governance mechanism in the participati and ii) Incentive Component, aimed at incentivizing the States for various measures for ensuring the long -term sustainability of ground water resources.

The  scheme  envisages  active  participation  of  the  communities,  including  women,  i activities such as formation of Water User Associations, monitoring and disse minating ground water data, water budgeting, preparation and implementation of Gram - Panchayat wise water security plans and IE activities related to sustainable ground water management.

(c) Water being a State subject, it is the prerogative of the Stat e Governments to frame various Acts for sustainable management of water for any purpose.

As per information received from Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs , the Model Building Bye Laws,  2016,  has  been  issued  for  guidance  of  the  States/UTs  which  has  a  chapter  on  'Rainwater Harvesting'.    33  States/UTs  have  adopted  the  rainwater  harvesting  provisions.  The  provisions  of  this chapter are applicable to all the build ings.  The implementation of the rainwater harvesting policy within the purview of the State Government/Urban Local Body / Urban Development Authority.

In order to regulate the Over - exploitation and consequent depletion of ground water, t he Minist ry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground w for regulation of its development, which includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far have adopted and implemented the grou nd water legislation on the lines of Model Bill .

(d) Central  Ground  Water  Board  has  prepared  'Empowering  Village  Communities  for  A  Sustainable Water Future: A Resource Book for village level para -hydrogeologists' jointly with MARVI (Managing Aquifer  Recharge  and  Sustaining  Groundwater  Use  through  Village - lev el  Intervention)  partners  which, inter - alia,  include  Western  Sydney  University,  Australia,  CSIRO  Land  &  Water,  Australi Communities and Technologies, Bhuj and Development Support Center, Ahmedabad. This isa step which is  likely  to  help  facilitate participation  of  village  communities in  ground  water  resource  management including adequate awareness generation, ensuring a sustainable water future.

Further, Ministry has undertaken a number of Information, Education & Communication activities for creating awareness among various target groups viz. organ workshops/Seminars/Conferences, institution of National Water awards, social media campaig Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.

*****