Lok Sabha Question No. 3003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-04
Subject: Water Scarcity in Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3003

ANSWERED ON 04.08.2022

## WATER SCARCITY IN PUNJAB

## 3003  SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to address the water scarcity problem highlighted by a National Green Tribunal (NGT) monitoring committee that announced recently that Punjab's groundwater would drop below 300 metres by the year 2039;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has taken any steps pursuant to the 2020 block-wise groundwater resources assessment by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) which found that most of the districts in Punjab had over-exploited the ground water levels; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a)  to  (b) Water  being  a  State  subject  addressing  water  scarcity  problem  including  taking  corrective action  falls  under  States'  mandate.  However,  Central  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  important measures  in  the  country  including  Punjab  for  conservation,  management  of  ground  water  including effective implementation of rain water, which can be seen at http://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for%20 water\_depletion\_july2022.pdf.  Further,  the details of some  of  the important  steps taken by  the Government of Punjab for sustainable management of the water are given at Annexure .

Government of India is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country including Punjab. First JSA was launched in 2019 in water stressed blocks of 256 districts which continued during the year 2021 (across entire country both rural and urban areas) also 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. JSA for the year 2021 and 2022 were  launched  by  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  and  Hon'ble  President  on  22.03.2021  and  29.03.2022 respectively.

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 including Punjab as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The Central Government has notified groundwater regulation guidelines dated 24.09.2020 with pan India applicability for controlling the extraction of groundwater by various consumers/project proponents like industries, infrastructure projects and mining projects under which No Objection Certificate (NOC) for extraction has been made mandatory.

Central  Ground  Water  board  (CGWB)  is  implementing  National  Aquifer  Mapping  Program (NAQUIM) with an aim to identify the groundwater aquifer system along-with their characterization for its sustainable management. Entire mappable area of Punjab (50368 Sq KM)  has been completed by the CGWB and the study report along-with management plans have been shared with the State for suitable interventions.

Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to  Groundwater  -  2020  has  been  prepared  by  CGWB  in consultation with States/UTs. The Master plan envisages construction of 11.00 Lakh structures (both rural and urban areas) in Punjab at a tentative cost of Rs 6773.00 Cr. The Master Plan has been shared with the State for appropriate implementation.

(c)  &  (d) CGWB  undertakes  groundwater  resource  assessment  periodically  for  the  entire  country  in collaboration with States/UTs. Last such assessment was done in 2020. Further, this Department notified groundwater  regulation  guidelines  dated  24  Sep  2020  with  pan  India  applicability  for  issue  of  No Objection Certificate (NOC)  for groundwater extraction by various consumers like industries, infrastructure  projects  and  mining  projects  etc  as  per  notified  provisions.  All  other  efforts/steps  for sustainable groundwater management are mentioned in para (a) and (b) above.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3003  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK   SABHA  ON  04.08.2022  REGARDING  'WATER SCARCITY IN PUNJAB'

The some of the important steps taken by the Government of Punjab for sustainable management the ground water in the State of Punjab are:

1. As per Notification dated 25 August 2010 issued by the State government "All the building located on plot area of 400 Square Meters and above, shall have Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting System to recharge Ground water.
2. The  Punjab  Water  Resources  Regulation  and  Development  Authority  (PWRDA)  has  been established to ensure conservation, management and regulation of water in the State.
3. Punjab Government had engaged M/s Mekorot National Water Company of Israel to prepare Water Conservation and Management Master Plan (WCMMP) for the State of Punjab for Management and Conservation of water in the State.
4. The  Punjab  government  had  launched  'Pani  Bachao,  Paise  Kamao'  scheme  on  the  14th  of  June 2018 which is targeted towards proper utilization and conservation of water and electricity.
5. State Government has set-up a dedicated Directorate of Ground Water Management, with the prime objective of conserving and managing water resources.
6. Soil  and  Water  Conservation  Department  is  making  efforts  to  encourage  water  conservation techniques  in  all  districts  of  State  so  as  to  ensure  the  optimum  use  of  the  irrigation  water.  In addition, adoption of Micro Irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation) system is being promoted in the State.
7. Encouragement  of  Resource  Conservation  Technology  (RCT)  like  Laser  Land  Levelling,  Zero Tilling,  etc.  is  being  done  in  farming  communities.  The  state  government  provides  subsidy  to farmers for custom hiring of this machinery.
8. Medium/Short Duration Rice Cultivars are being promoted over long duration ones, to save water.
9. The  State  is  implementing  schemes  for  promoting  pipeline  based  irrigation  system  by  providing financial assistance.
10. Government  of  Punjab  has  implemented  irrigation  projects  from  sewage  water  generated  from Sewerage Treatment Plants of the State.
11. Government  of  Punjab  has  constructed  low  dams  to  provide  irrigation  facilities  under  Bharat Nirman Program. These dams facilitate in augmenting the Ground Water Resources of the State & in arresting the declining ground water table.