Lok Sabha Question No. 76 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-02
Subject: Water Storage Capacity
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Shrikant Eknath Shinde

*76.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *76

ANSWERED ON 02.12.2021

## WATER STORAGE CAPACITY

DR. HEENA GAVIT

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantity of estimated water demand for its consumption in the country; (b)  whether  there  is  a  need  for  storing  water  to  meet  its  requirement  and  if  so,  the  total  water  storage capacity generated by the Government across the country upto 20 November, 2021; (c)  whether  the  existing  storage  capacity  is  sufficient  to  meet  the  water  consumption  demand  in  the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (d) whether the Government has fixed any target to increase the water storage capacity in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the schemes formulated by the Government to achieve the said target?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO *76 TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  02.12.2021  REGARDING  'WATER  STORAGE CAPACITY'.

(a) Total water requirement of the country for different uses, for high demand scenario, for the year 2025 and 2050 has been assessed  by  National  Commission  on  Integrated  Water  Resources  Development  (NCIWRD)1999 at 843 billion cubic meters (BCM) and 1,180 BCM, respectively.

(b) to (e) Yes. Since there is a substantial variation in temporal and spatial distribution of rainfall in India, there is  a  need  for  storage  of  water  in  the  country.  As  per  information  available  with  Central  Water  Commission (CWC),  the  gross  and  live  storage  capacity  created  due  to  the  completed  projects  in  the  entire  country  is 325.455 BCM and 249.093 BCM, respectively.

CWC made an assessment of average annual water availability (1985-2015) in the country at 1,999.2 BCM, out of which, the utilizable water is 1,126 BCM (comprising 690 BCM of surface water and 436 BCM of replenishable ground water), owing to topographic, hydrological and other constraints.

As per the erstwhile Planning Commission's "Report of the Working Group on Water Resources for the Xlth Five Year Plan ( 2007-2012)", for harnessing of 690 BCM of utilizable surface water, it is estimated that live storage capacity of about 450 BCM is required.

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments,  Government  of  India  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  encourage  sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes.

There  are  significant  reserves  of  water  underground.  Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by CGWB in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating  various  structures  for  the  different  terrain  conditions  cf  the  country.  The  Master  Plan  envisages construction of about 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 BCM of monsoon rainfall. The "Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India - 2020" is available at http://cgwb.gov.in/Whatisnew/2021-06-30-Final-Approved %20Master%20Plan%202020-00002. pdf

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India launched the "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain" (JSA:CTR) on 22 March,  2021,  the  World  Water  Day,  with  the  theme  "Catch  the  Rain  -  Where  it  Falls  When  it  Falls".  The abhiyan  is  aimed  at  creating  appropriate  rainwater  harvesting  structures  in  urban  and  rural  areas  of  all  the districts in the country, with people's active participation during 22 March, 2021 to 30 November, 2021 - the pre-monsoon and monsoon period.

During 2016-17, ninety-nine (99) on-going Major/Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects under PMKSYAIBP, having balance  estimated  cost  of  Rs.  77,595  crore  (with  central  assistance  component  of  Rs.  31,342 crore), have been prioritized in consultation with States for completion in phases. Out of these, AIBP works of 46 projects have been reported to be completed.

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