Lok Sabha Question No. 1334 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Ground Water Extraction
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1334

## ANSWERED ON 09.02.2023

## GROUND WATER EXTRACTION

## 1334. SHRI N. REDDEPPA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that India tops the list of the top ten ground water extracting countries;

(b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken to reduce the dependency on ground water resources;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  proposed  a  pan  India  scheme  for  the  rejuvenation  of  ground  water resources; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) Such  information  is not  readily  available,  however,  as  per  one  of  the  UN  report  India  is  among  top countries with the highest shares in groundwater withdrawal in 2017.

(b) Water  being  State  subject  taking  suitable  steps  to  reduce  dependency  on  groundwater  is  States' responsibility, however a number of initiatives have been taken by the Central Government in this direction which can be seen at https://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for% 20water\_depletion\_july2022.pdf. Some of the important initiatives are given as under.

(i) Central Government is promoting conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water in agriculture, drinking  water  and  other  applications  etc  through  various  policy  initiatives/schemes.  In  this  regard, National  Water  Policy  (NWP-2012)  advocates  for  a  number  of  policy  interventions  for  sustainable management of water resources including efficient use of groundwater and surface water in the country.

(ii) Central Government launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) in the year 199697 to provide Central Assistance to States for the major/medium irrigation projects in the country. Further, during the year 2015-16, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched with the aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm  water-use  efficiency,  introduce  sustainable  water  conservation  practices  etc.,  and  Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was co-opted in it. Major and Medium Irrigation Projects through surface water sources at various places have been taken up under this scheme.

(iii)  Repair,  Renovation  &  Restoration  (RRR)  of  Water  Bodies  and  Surface  Minor  Irrigation  (SMI) schemes  are  being  implemented  by  this  Ministry  as  part  of  PMKSY  with  an  aim  to  comprehensively improve & restore the water bodies, to promote conjunctive use of surface & ground water, ground water recharge/conservation and to undertake minor irrigation projects using surface water etc.

(iv) Guidelines (with pan India applicability) for regulation and control of ground water extraction in the  country  was  notified  by  the  Ministry  on  24.09.2020.  Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  guideline advocates  for  a  participatory  approach  for  sustainable  ground  water  management  in  agriculture  sector including working towards crop rotation, diversification & other initiatives to reduce over-dependence on groundwater.

(v) Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs. 6000 crore Central Sector Scheme, is being implemented by the  Ministry  for  sustainable  management  of  ground  water  resources  which  include  activities  like preparation of water  security  plan  at  Gram  Panchayat  level  in  participatory  mode  by  involving communities to use available groundwater and surface water in an efficient manner. The scheme is being taken up in select areas that include 80 districts, 229 administrative blocks and 8220 water stressed Gram Panchayats of seven States,  viz.  Haryana,  Gujarat,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from 01.04.2020 for a period of 5 years.

(vi) Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing Per Drop More Crop component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which is operational from 2015-16. The PMKSY-Per  Drop  More  Crop  mainly  focuses  on  water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through  micro irrigation (drip and sprinkler irrigation system) to reduce the extraction of groundwater.

(c) & (d) Central government generally supports water harvesting/conservation efforts through pan India schemes like MGNREGS, PMKSY-Watershed development etc. During 2019, Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) was launched by the Central Government with an aim to closely monitor the progress towards harvesting the monsoon rainfall through creation of artificial recharge structures, watershed management, renovation of  recharge  and  reuse  structures,  intensive  afforestation  etc  in  convergence  with  various  Central/State government schemes. The JSA had continued during 2021 and 2022 which were launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister and Hon'ble President of India respectively.

With  an  aim  to  delineate  and  characterize  the  aquifer  system  of  the  entire  country  and  to  suggest effective  management  plan,  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  is  implementing  National  Aquifer Mapping program (NAQUIM). Out of the identified 25 lakh sq km area for  coverage  under  NAQUIM studies, so far, an area of 24.50 Lakh Sq Km (as on 30 Dec 2022) has already been covered. The entire 25 lakh sq km is targeted to be covered by March 2023. The NAQUIM reports are shared with States/UTs for use.

In addition, the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater -2020 has been jointly prepared by CGWB and  States.  The  master  plan  envisages  creation  of  141.75  Lakh  water  harvesting/conservation structures for both rural and urban areas at an estimated cost of Rs 1.34 lakh Cr. The Master plan has been shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions through relevant Central/State schemes.

Further, Hon'ble Prime Minister launched Amrit Sarovar Mission on 24 th April 2022. The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

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