Lok Sabha Question No. 1363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Depletion of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Girish Chandra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1363

ANSWERED ON 09.02.2023

## DEPLETION OF GROUND WATER

## 1363. SHRI GIRISH CHANDRA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that in some parts of the country there has been serious depletion of ground water and if so, the details thereof, along with the reasons therefor?

(b)  whether  any  study/research  have  been  conducted  on  the  reasons  and  consequential  effects  of decrease in groundwater level and, if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to mitigate the problem?

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

(a) Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  is  periodically  monitoring  the  ground  water  levels throughout the country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. In order to assess the  long  term  fluctuation  in  ground  water  levels,  the  water  level  data  collected  by  CGWB  during November 2022 have been compared with the decadal mean of November (2012-2021). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 61.10 % wells have registered rise (in ground water levels). The State-wise details in this regard are given at Annexure .

(b) CGWB has not conducted any specific study on the reasons and consequential effects of decrease in ground water level, however, ground water levels in some parts of the country appear to decline mainly because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand for freshwater for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization & urbanization etc.

Further, CGWB periodically assess the groundwater resources of the entire country in collaboration with  States/UTs  which  after  detailed  analysis  indicate  the  groundwater  resources'  trend  vis-à-vis previous resource assessments. Further, National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) is being implemented in the  country  by  the  CGWB  which  brings  out  the  aquifer  characteristics  and  suggest  their  possible utilization and recharge based on the detailed analysis.

(c) 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/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for %20water\_depletion\_july2022.pdf

Government  of  India  is  implementing  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan  (JSA)  in  the  country.  First  JSA  was launched in 2019 in water stressed blocks of 256 districts which continued during the year 2021 (across entire country both rural and urban areas) also with the primary aim to effectively harvest the monsoon rainfall  through  creation  of  artificial  recharge  structures,  watershed  management,  recharge  and  reuse structures, intensive afforestation and awareness generation etc. JSA for the year 2021 and 2022 were launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister and Hon'ble President on 22.03.2021 and 29.03.2022 respectively.

In addition a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting such  as  'Mukhyamantri  Jal  Swavlamban  Abhiyan'  in  Rajasthan,  'JalyuktShibar'  in  Maharashtra, 'SujalamSufalam  Abhiyan'  in  Gujarat,  'Mission  Kakatiya'  in  Telangana,  NeeruChettu'  in  Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, 'Jal Hi Jeevan' in Haryana, and Kudimaramath scheme in Tamil Nadu.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1363 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 09.02.2023 REGARDING 'DEPLETION OF GROUND WATER'.

## State-wise Decadal Water Level Fluctuation with Mean [November (2012 to 2021] and November 2022

| S. No.   | Name of State       | No. of wells Analys   | Rise     | Rise          | Rise        | Rise   | Rise    |        |           | Fall   | Fall   | Fall       | Fall    | Fall     | Rise       | Rise   | Fall   | Wells showing no change   | Wells showing no change   | Wells showing no change   | Wells showing no change   |
|----------|---------------------|-----------------------|----------|---------------|-------------|--------|---------|--------|-----------|--------|--------|------------|---------|----------|------------|--------|--------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|
| S. No.   | Name of State       |                       |          | 2-4m          | 2-4m        |        | >4m     | >4m    | 0-2m %    | 0-2m % | 2-4m   | 2-4m       | >4m     | >4m      | No         | No     |        |                           |                           |                           |                           |
| S. No.   | Name of State       | ed                    | No %     | No            | %           | No     | %       | No     | No        |        | %      | No         | %       | No       | %          | %      |        | No                        | %                         | %                         | %                         |
| 1        | Andaman and Nicobar | 99 70                 | 70.7     | 2             | 2.0         | 0      | 0.0     | 26     | 26.3      | 0      | 0.0    | 0          | 0.0     | 72 72.7  | 26         | 26.3   |        | 1                         | 1.0                       | 1.0                       | 1.0                       |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh      | 662 335               | 50.6     | 91            | 13.7        | 65     | 9.8     | 157    | 23.7      | 11     | 1.7    | 3          | 0.5     | 491      | 74.2       | 25.8   |        | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh   | 9 1                   | 11.1     | 0             | 0.0         | 0      | 0.0     | 7      | 77.8      | 1      | 11.1   | 0          | 0.0     | 1        | 171 11.1 8 | 88.9   |        | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 4        | Assam               | 84                    | 51.5     | 2             | 1.2         | 1      | 0.6     | 72     | 44.2      | 2      | 1.2    | 2          | 1.2     | 87       | 53.4 76    | 46.6   |        | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 5        | Bihar               | 163 638               | 291 45.6 | 19            | 3.0         | 4      | 0.6     | 279    | 43.7      | 36     | 5.6    | 9          | 1.4     | 314      | 49.2       | 50.8   |        | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 6        | Chandigarh          | 14                    | 4 28.6   | 1             | 7.1         | 0      | 0.0     | 5      | 35.7      | 2      | 14.3   | 2          | 14.3    | 5        | 35.7       | 324 9  | 64.3   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh        | 757                   | 386 51.0 | 86            | 11.4        | 20     | 2.6     | 214    | 28.3      | 36     | 4.8    | 14         | 1.8     | 492      | 65.0       | 264    | 34.9   | 1                         | 0.1                       | 0.1                       | 0.1                       |
| 8        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 15 9                  | 60.0     | 0             | 0.0         | 0      | 0.0     | 5      | 33.3      | 1      | 6.7    | 0 0.0      | 9       |          | 60.0       | 6      | 40.0   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 9        | Daman &Diu          | 4                     | 57.1     | 0             | 0.0         | 0      | 0.0     | 3      | 42.9      | 0      | 0.0    | 0          | 0.0     | 4        | 57.1 3     |        | 42.9   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 10       | Delhi               | 7 84                  | 31 36.9  | 11            | 13.1        | 18     | 21.4    | 12     | 14.3      | 6      | 7.1    | 6          | 7.1     | 60       | 71.4       | 28.6   |        | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 11       | Goa                 | 63                    | 10 15.9  | 0             | 0.0         | 0      | 0.0     | 47     | 74.6      | 5      | 7.9    | 1          |         | 10       | 24 53      |        | 84.1   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 12       | Gujarat             | 709                   | 287 40.5 | 113           | 15.9        | 76     | 10.7    | 169    | 23.8      | 35     | 4.9    | 29         | 1.6 4.1 | 476      | 15.9 67.1  | 233    | 32.9   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 13       | Haryana             | 102                   | 39.5     | 24            | 9.3         | 18     | 7.0     | 65     | 25.2      | 22     | 8.5    | 27         | 10.5    | 144      | 55.8 114   |        | 44.2   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 14       | Himachal Pradesh    | 258 84                | 23 27.4  | 4             | 4.8         | 0      | 0.0     | 52     | 61.9      | 3      | 3.6    | 2          | 2.4     | 27       | 32.1       |        | 67.9   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 15       | Jammu &Kashmir      | 271                   | 102 37.6 | 6             | 2.2         | 3      | 1.1     | 150    | 55.4      | 10     | 3.7    | 0          | 0.0     | 111      | 41.0       | 57 160 | 59.0   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 16       | Jharkhand           | 173                   | 73       | 8             | 4.6         | 5      | 2.9     | 70     | 40.5      | 15     | 8.7    | 1          | 0.6     | 86       | 49.7       | 86     | 49.7   | 1                         | 0.6                       | 0.6                       | 0.6                       |
| 17       | Karnataka           | 1328                  |          | 42.2 41.0 188 | 14.2        | 157    | 11.8    | 395    | 29.7      | 27     | 2.0    | 15         | 1.1     | 890      | 67.0       | 32.9   |        | 1                         | 0.1                       | 0.1                       | 0.1                       |
| 18       | Kerala              | 1410                  | 545      | 42.7          | 2.5         | 7      | 0.5     | 718    | 50.9      | 35     | 2.5    | 12         | 0.9     | 644 45.7 | 437 765    | 54.3   |        | 1                         | 0.1                       | 0.1                       | 0.1                       |
| 19       | Madhya Pradesh      | 1259                  | 602 650  | 51.6          | 35 262 20.8 | 92     | 7.3     | 199    | 15.8      | 40     | 3.2    | 16         | 1.3     | 100      | 79.7 255   |        | 20.3   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 20       | Maharashtra         | 1474 661              | 44.8     |               | 15.7        | 105    | 7.1     | 394    | 26.7      | 62     | 4.2    | 19         | 1.3     | 997      | 67.6       | 32.2   |        | 2                         | 0.1                       | 0.1                       | 0.1                       |
| 21       | Meghalaya           | 12                    | 50.0     | 231           | 4.2         | 0      | 0.0     | 11     | 45.8      | 0      | 0.0    | 0          | 0.0     | 13       | 54.2       | 475 11 | 45.8   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 22       | Nagaland            | 24 4                  | 0 0.0    | 1 2           | 50.0        | 0      | 0.0     | 1      | 25.0      | 1      | 25.0   | 0          | 0.0     | 2        | 2          |        | 50.0   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 23       | Odhisha             | 1211                  | 56.6     | 29            | 2.4         | 3      | 0.2     | 465    | 38.4      | 26     | 2.1    | 2          | 0.2     | 718      | 50.0 59.3  | 493    | 40.7   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 24       | Pondicherry         | 686 3                 | 75.0     |               | 0.0         | 0      | 0.0     | 1      | 25.0      | 0      | 0.0    | 0          | 0.0     | 3        | 75.0       | 1      | 25.0   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 25       | Punjab              | 4 230                 | 54 23.5  | 0 2           | 0.9         | 2      | 0.9     | 89     | 38.7      | 47     | 20.4   |            | 15.7    | 58       | 25.2       | 172    |        | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 26       | Rajasthan           | 889                   | 270 30.4 | 114           | 12.8        | 88     | 9.9     | 249    | 28.0      | 82     | 9.2    | 36 86      | 9.7     | 472      | 53.1       | 46.9   | 74.8   | 0                         | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 27       |                     |                       | 35.5     |               | 25.8        |        |         |        | 13.9      | 11     |        | 7          |         |          | 83.2       | 417    | 16.8   | 0                         |                           |                           |                           |
|          | Tamil Nadu          | 620                   |          | 160           |             | 136    | 21.9    | 86     |           |        | 1.8    | 1.1        |         | 516      | 104        |        |        | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 28       | Telangana           | 220 217               | 42.4     | 106           | 20.7        | 135    | 26.4    | 44     | 8.6       | 4      | 0.8    | 1.2        |         | 458 89.5 | 54         | 10.5   | 0      |                           | 0.0                       | 0.0                       | 0.0                       |
| 29       | Tripura             | 512 20                | 7 35.0   | 1             | 5.0         | 0      | 0.0     | 10     | 50.0      | 2      | 10.0   | 6 0        | 0.0     | 8        | 40.0       | 12     | 60.0   | 0                         |                           | 0.0                       |                           |
| 30       | Uttar Pradesh       | 631                   | 341 54.0 | 45            | 7.1         | 10     | 1.6     | 189    | 30.0      | 28     | 4.4    | 18 2.9 6.7 | 29      | 396 62.8 | 235        |        | 0      | 37.2 0.0                  | 37.2 0.0                  | 37.2 0.0                  | 37.2 0.0                  |
| 31       | Uttarakhand         | 45                    | 21 23.6  | 46.7 6 23     | 13.3        | 2      | 4.4 1.7 | 10 352 | 22.2 46.2 | 3      | 6.7    | 3 89       |         | 64.4 216 |            | 546    |        | 16                        | 0                         | 0.0 0.0                   |                           |
|          |                     | 762                   | 180      |               | 3.0         | 13     |         |        |           | 105    | 13.8   | 11.7       |         | 28.3     | 71.7       |        |        |                           |                           |                           |                           |
| 32       | West Bengal TOTAL   | 14429                 | 6281     | 43.5 1572     | 10.9        | 960    | 6.7     | 4546   | 31.5      | 658    | 4.6    | 405        | 2.8     | 881 61.1 | 560        | 35.6   | 0      | 38.9 0.0                  | 7                         | 38.9 0.0                  | 38.9 0.0                  |