Lok Sabha Question No. 2535 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-17
Subject: Data on Water Bodies
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2535

ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022

## DATA ON WATER BODIES

## 2535. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of data on water bodies in the country, State-wise;
- (b)  whether  the  number  of  water  bodies  have  decreased  in  the  sixth  Minor  Irrigation  Census  as compared to the previous Minor Irrigation Census and if so, the reasons identified by the Ministry for the same;
- (c) the number of cases of encroachment of water bodies reported across the country during the last three years, State and year-wise;
- (d) whether the Ministry is aware that Ramzan river in Kishanganj is encroached upon and causing flood hazard for the Kishanganj town and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to remove the encroachment; and
- (e) the details of action taken by the Ministry on reported water encroachments so far?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Ministry of Jal Shakti has 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 objective of the census of water bodies is to develop a national database for all water bodies by collecting information on all important aspects of the subject including their size, condition, status  of  encroachments,  use,  storage  capacity  etc.  Presently,  the  field  work  and  data  processing activities of the first census of water bodies is nearing completion in various States/UTs. However, as per currently available data, the tentative figures of State-wise number of water bodies is provided in Annexure I.
- (b) The data of water bodies upto fifth minor irrigation census is limited upto village level whereas first  census  of  water  bodies  which  is  conducted  in  convergence  with  sixth  minor  irrigation  census covers all  types  of  water  bodies  in  both  rural  and  urban  areas.  Hence,  comparison  of  data  of  water bodies between fifth and sixth minor irrigation censuses is not feasible.
- (c)  The  information  on  encroachment  of  water  bodies  is  collected  for  the  first  time  under  the  first census of water bodies which is nearing completion. Based on information available, the State-wise number of cases of encroachment of water bodies is given in the Annexure I.

(d) Flood management including erosion control falls within the purview of the States. Accordingly, flood management schemes are formulated and implemented by concerned State Governments as per their priority. Union Government supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical guidance and also promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas.      Ministry of Jal Shakti  has  continuously  impressed  upon  the  States  the  need  to  adopt  flood  plain  zoning  approach. Ganga Flood Control Commission under Ministry of Jal Shakti has also continuously impressed upon the basin States on the need to take follow-up action to implement the flood plain zoning approach in various meetings of the Commission with representatives of State Governments. The National Mission for  Clean  Ganga  (NMCG) has time to time advised all States in Ganga Basin, including Bihar, for demarcation,  delineation  and  notification  of  river  flood  plains  and  removal  of  encroachments  from river bed/flood plain of the river Ganga and its tributaries.

(e) Action on reported encroachment of water bodies is taken by the respective State Governments, as it  comes under the purview of the State Government concerned. However, from time to time Union Government  has  been  sensitizing  the  State  Governments  regarding  importance  of  water  bodies  for socio economic development and sustainable water security to the local population. Need for taking necessary steps for keeping the water bodies encroachment free, such as inclusion of water bodies in land records and making them integral part of town planning process, strict action for the encroachers, etc. is also being emphasized to the State Governments by Union Government, from time to time.

******

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2535  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  17.03.2022  REGARDING  'DATA  ON WATER BODIES'.

## State-wise number of water bodies and number of encroachments reported in the first Census of Water bodies (Provisional)

| S.No.   | States/UTs               | Total number of water bodies reported   | Total number of encroachments reported   |
|---------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| (1)     | (2)                      | (3)                                     | (4)                                      |
| 1       | ANDAMAN &NICOBAR ISLANDS | 3528                                    | 59                                       |
| 2       | ANDHRA PRADESH           | 190777                                  | 3920                                     |
| 3       | ARUNACHAL PRADESH        | 993                                     | 0                                        |
| 4       | ASSAM                    | 172492                                  | 13                                       |
| 5       | BIHAR                    | 45793                                   | 871                                      |
| 6       | CHANDIGARH               | 188                                     | 0                                        |
| 7       | GOA                      | 1463                                    | 8                                        |
| 8       | GUJARAT                  | 54069                                   | 22                                       |
| 9       | HARYANA                  | 14898                                   | 50                                       |
| 10      | HIMACHAL PRADESH         | 88017                                   | 42                                       |
| 11      | JHARKHAND                | 107598                                  | 560                                      |
| 12      | KERALA                   | 55734                                   | 111                                      |
| 13      | MANIPUR                  | 1658                                    | 6                                        |
| 14      | MEGHALAYA                | 13332                                   | 6                                        |
| 15      | MIZORAM                  | 2185                                    | 7                                        |
| 16      | NAGALAND                 | 1432                                    | 1                                        |
| 17      | PUDUCHERRY               | 1171                                    | 34                                       |
| 18      | PUNJAB                   | 16012                                   | 1578                                     |
| 19      | SIKKIM                   | 134                                     | 0                                        |
| 20      | TAMIL NADU               | 106957                                  | 8366                                     |
| 21      | TELENGANA                | 64056                                   | 3032                                     |
| 22      | UTTARAKHAND              | 3096                                    | 5                                        |

******