Lok Sabha Question No. 832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-21
Subject: Atal Bhujal Yojana
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 832

ANSWERED ON 21.07.2022

## ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA

## SHRI SANJAY JADHAV SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

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

(a)  the  salient  features  of  the  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  (ABY)  formulated  to  augment  the  ground  water resources of the country;

(b) the details of the budget allocated and the funds spent in each State including Maharashtra during the last three years particularly with regard to Parbhani Parliamentary Constituency;

- (c) whether plans for water related works at the Gram Panchayat level are likely to be encouraged and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  include  women  and  people's  representatives  to  meet  local needs  such  as  agricultural  irrigation  and  requirements  at  homes  by  constituting  Panchayat  level committees and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) the manner in which the structure of the committee is likely to be constituted and the members likely to be included therein;

(f) whether the women representatives are likely to be included therein, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(g)  the  details  of  the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  to  improve  water  related  data  for  better  water behaviour in districts?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) is being implemented in 8,562 Gram Panchayats of 80 districts in 7 States,  namely,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Rajasthan  and  Uttar Pradesh with an aim to improve community led sustainable ground water management, mainly through convergence  among  various  ongoing  Central  and  State  schemes.  It  also  aims  at  bringing  about behavioural  change  at  the  community  level  through  awareness  programs  and  capacity  building  for fostering sustainable ground water management.

- (b)  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  is  being  implemented  since  01.04.2020.  Status  of  funds  allocated  and  spent under this scheme is given below:

(Rs. in crore)

| State   |   Funds allocated and released in FY 2020-21 | Funds allocated and released in FY 2021-22   |
|---------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| 10.26   |                                        36.2  | Gujarat                                      |
| 20.80   |                                        32.15 | Haryana                                      |
| 21.52   |                                        73.62 | Karnataka                                    |
| 6.33    |                                        46.57 | Madhya Pradesh                               |
| 20.35   |                                        43.18 | Maharashtra                                  |
| 22.05   |                                        46.35 | Rajasthan                                    |
| 7.69    |                                        32.33 | Uttar Pradesh                                |
| Total   |                                       109    | 310.40                                       |

Scheme is not being implemented in Parbhani Parliamentary Constituency.

(c) to (f) Yes Sir, The scheme envisages active participation of the communities and panchayats in the participating  States  in  various  activities  such  as  formation/strengthening  of  Water  User  Associations, monitoring and disseminating ground water data, water budgeting and preparation of Gram Panchayatwise  Water  Security  Plans  (WSPs)  and  their  implementation.  The  participation  of  women  in  water budgeting and water security planning exercises has been kept at least 33% in the Gram Panchayat-level Water User Associations. The existing Village Water & Sanitation Committee in each Gram Panchayat has been enlarged and engaged for this purpose.

(g) One of the main objectives of the Atal Bhujal Yojana is to bring about behavioural change at ground level. For that, water related data such as water availability and usage have been used while preparing Water Budget and Water Security Plans. These Plans are being prepared with community participation and the data used in the plan is being disseminated to the entire community. Further, in order to improve water  related  data,  various  equipments  such  as  Digital  Water  level  Recorder  (DWLRs),  Water  level sounders,  Rain  gauges,  Water  flow  meters  are  being  installed  in  all  Atal  Jal  States.    In  addition, Government of India is also installing various Real Time Data Acquisition Systems (RTDAS) for both Surface as well as ground water across the Country under National Hydrology project.

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