Lok Sabha Question No. 3847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: Water Conservation
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3847

## ANSWERED ON 23.03.2023

## WATER CONSERVATION

## 3847. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has prepared any action plan to conserve water and increase the level of ground water in the country during the last five years;

- (b) if so, the outline of the said action plan; and
- (c) whether any time limit has been fixed for the said scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c) Water  is  a  State  subject  and  the  Central  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  States through technical and financial support. Water conservation through rainwater harvesting is one of the foremost priorities of the Government being implemented across the country in close coordination with States.  Major  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  conservation  of  water  and  increasing  the  level  of ground water in the country are as follows:

- i. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including estimated cost. The Master  Plan  envisages  construction  of  about  1.42  crore  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial recharge  structures  in  the  country  to  harness  185  Billion  Cubic  Metre  (BCM)  of  monsoon rainfall. The Master Plan has been circulated to all the States/UTs for implementation. No time limit has been fixed for implementation of the Master Plan.
- ii. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019 on an annual basis. JSA could not be implemented in 2020 due to Covid pandemic. In the current year, Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan:  Catch  the  Rain  2023,  4th  in  the  series  of  JSA  has  been  launched  by  the Hon'ble President of India on 04.03.2023 for implementation in all the districts (rural as well as urban) of the country from 04.03.2023 to 30.11.2023.
- iii. Government has been implementing Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) since 2015-16 with an 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.
- iv. Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) has been launched in 2019 with the objective to improve the management of ground water resources including rainwater harvesting in water stressed areas through  community participation  in  identified  priority  areas  in  7  states  viz.  Gujarat,  Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
- v. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) includes water conservation and water harvesting structures as one of the activities under its natural resource management (NRM) component.
- vi. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has formulated guidelines for the States to adopt measures suitable to local conditions, such as Unified Building Bye Laws (UBBL) of Delhi, 2016, Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 and Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014 with adequate focus on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.
- vii. 15th Finance Commission grants have been released to States to be utilized through Rural Local Bodies. Financial assistance given to various States under 15th Finance Commission tied grants can be inter alia utilised for rainwater harvesting.

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