Lok Sabha Question No. 405 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-08
Subject: Depletion of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Amar Singh

## 405 DR. AMAR SINGH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:-

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  ground  water  in  the  country  depleted  at  10-25  mm  per  year between 2002 and 2016 and the water demand would exceed supply by 2050; and

(b) if so, the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in mind that eighty five percent of the rural and fifty per cent of the urban population in the country is dependent on ground water for fulfilling needs?

## 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 level, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2002 has been compared with November 2016 data. The results of analysis indicate that, out of 7,233 wells, 3,800 wells (52.5 %) show net rise in water levels and 3,397 wells (47 %) show decline in water level while there is no change of water level in 36 wells (0.5 %).

Ground  water  levels  in  some  parts  of  the  country  are  declining  because  of  continuous  withdrawal necessitated  by  increased  demand  of  fresh  water  for  various  uses,  vagaries  of  rainfall,  increase  in population,  industrialization  &  urbanization  etc.    However,  the  groundwater  resource  assessment  2022 conducted by CGWB in collaboration with States/UTs indicates improving trend in groundwater scenario in certain parts of the country.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 405

ANSWERED ON 08.12.2022

## DEPLETION OF GROUND WATER

(b) Water  being  the  State  subject,  the  efforts  to  improve  the  groundwater  scenario    including  effective rainwater harvesting etc come under States' mandate.  However, Central Government has taken a number of important measures in this regard in the country, which can be seen at :

http://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for%2 0water\_depletion\_july2022.pdf.

Further, Central Government works in close collaboration with States/UTs through various initiatives/schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Atal Bhujal Yojana, MGNREGA, PMKSY-Watershed development etc to supplement the efforts of States/UTs for sustainable management of groundwater. The JSA  was  launched  in  2019  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.  The  JSA  has  continued  during  2021  and  2022  which  were launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister and Hon'ble President of India, respectively.

Further,  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  launched  Amrit  Sarovar  Mission  on  24th  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.

Several States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting such as 'Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan' in Rajasthan, 'Jalyukt Shibar' in Maharashtra, 'Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan' in Gujarat, 'Mission Kakatiya' in Telangana, Neeru Chettu' in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, 'Jal Hi Jeevan' in Haryana, and Kudimaramath scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.

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