Lok Sabha Question No. 235 (STARRED), answered on 2023-03-16
Subject: Revival of Traditional Water Bodies
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Rajendra Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *235

ANSWERED ON 16.03.2023

## REVIVAL OF TRADITIONAL WATER BODIES

- *235 SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE  SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
- (a) whether the Government has formulated any plan to trace out old and ancient ponds and water bodies  which  have  been  extinct  across  the  country  especiallly  in  Latur  district  of  Maharashtra, Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of ponds/water bodies revived during the last three years, year-wise; and
- (c)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  remove  encroachment  of  ancient ponds/water bodies and also to revive them across the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *235 FOR REPLY ON 16.03.2023 REGARDING REVIAL OF TRADITIONAL WATER BODIES

(a)  &  (b) Water  being  a  State  subject,  initiatives  on  water  management  including  conservation  & water  harvesting  and  revival/rejuvenation  of  water  bodies  in  the  country  is  primarily  States' responsibility. Central Government extends financial and technical support to the State Government. Ministry of Jal Shakti had constituted a Committee to identify 75 Water Heritage Structures (WHS) in reference to 75 years of India's independence, which also includes 4 structures from the State of Uttar Pradesh. In this connection, 'Jal-Itihas' sub-portal under India-WRIS portal, showcasing the 75 WHS, was launched (https;//indiawris.gov.in/wris/)  on  5th January,  2023  at  the  1 st All  India  State Ministers' Conference on Water at Bhopal.

Further,  water  conservation  and  rainwater  harvesting  is  one  of  the  focused  interventions  of  Jal Shakti  Abhiyan:  Catch  the  Rain  (JSA:  CTR)  campaign  which  inter  alia  includes  renovation  of traditional water bodies, removal of encroachments of tanks/lakes and rejuvenation of water bodies. The details of number of water bodies/tanks renovated in JSA-2019 and JSA: CTR 2021 & 2022 are as follows:

|   S No. | Renovation of traditional & other water bodies and tanks in Jal Shakti Abhiyan   | Year                                 |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|       1 | 44,497                                                                           | 2019                                 |
|       2 | 1,79,950                                                                         | 2021 (from 22.03.2021 to 28.03.2022) |
|       3 | 1,61,171                                                                         | 2022 (from 29.3.2022 to 03.03.2023)  |

Ministry of Jal Shakti has also launched the first Census of Water bodies in convergence with the Sixth  Minor  Irrigation  Census  (reference  year  2017-18)  under  the  centrally  sponsored  scheme 'Irrigation Census'. The water bodies' census inter alia collects information on all important aspects on the subject including their type (i.e. ponds, tanks, lakes, water conservation schemes/percolation tanks/check-dams), condition, status of encroachments, use, storage capacity, status of filling up of storage etc.

Further,  DoWR,  RD  &  GR,  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  is  implementing  Repair,  Renovation  and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with main objectives as comprehensive improvement and restoration of water bodies thereby increasing tank storage capacity, improvement of catchment areas of tank command etc.

(c) Water  is  a  State  subject  and,  therefore,  making  the  water  bodies  free  from  encroachment  falls under their mandate. Further, as per the guidelines of RRR scheme, States are to take necessary steps for  declaring  the  water  body  boundary  through  a  Government  order  and  ensure  removal  of encroachments in the water body spread area/water body boundary before submitting a proposal for release of installment of central assistance.