Lok Sabha Question No. 3093 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-04
Subject: Extraction of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Abhishek Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3093

## ANSWERED ON 04.08.2022

## EXTRACTION OF GROUND WATER

## 3093 SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the quantity of ground water extracted annually in the country;

(b)  whether  the  Government  is  of  the  opinion  that  there  is  excessive  ground  water  extraction  in  the country;

(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to control excessive extraction of ground water;

(d) whether the Government proposes to regulate the extraction of ground water;

(e) if so, details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to introduce a Model Water Law and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) The Dynamic Ground Water Resource of the country is being periodically assessed jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. As per the 2020 assessment, the Annual Ground Water Extraction for all uses is 245 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM).

(b) Extraction  of  groundwater  resources  in  an  area  depends  on  a  number  of  factors  like  industrial applications,  drinking/domestic  purposes,  irrigation  requirements,  urbanisation  etc  and  therefore,  the extraction  level  vary  for  different  areas  across  the  country.  However,  in  order  to  assess  the  long  term fluctuation  in  ground  water  level,  the  water  level  data  collected  by  CGWB  (through  a  network  of monitoring wells across the country) during November 2021 has been compared with the decadal mean of  November  2011  to  Nov  2020.  Analysis  of  water  level  data  indicates  that  about  70%  of  the  wells monitored have registered rise in ground water level whereas, about 30 % wells have registered decline in water level.

(c)  to  (e) Central  Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA)  has  been  constituted  under  Section  3(3)  of  the 'Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986'  for  the  purpose  of  regulation  and  control  of  ground  water development  and  management  in  the  Country.  CGWA  grants  No  Objection  Certificates  (NOCs)  for Ground  water  abstraction  to  Industries,  Infrastructure  units  and  Mining  projects  in  feasible  areas  in certain States/UTs whereas in balance areas the regulation is being done by the respective States/UTs. The latest guideline for control and regulation of groundwater extraction with pan-India applicability was

notified by the Ministry on 24 September 2020.

Further, the Department has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 19 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation.

Though  water  is  a  State  subject,  Central  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  important  measures  for conservation, management of ground water including effective implementation of rain water harvesting in the country, which can be seen at http://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/file/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central% 20Govt%20for%20water\_depletion\_july2022.pdf.

(f) The  Ministry  has  already  finalized  the  National  Water  Policy  2012,  whose  provisions  can  be appropriately utilized while framing the water legislation by the States/UTs. The Water Policy advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures.

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