Lok Sabha Question No. 547 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-22
Subject: Revival of Water Bodies
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## †547. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the problem of underground water level has turned into a very serious problem in due to encroachment on the land of lakes, ponds, wells, reservoirs, small ponds (johad) an r water bodies and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the measures being taken to improve the underground water level along with the efforts revival of said water bodies;

(c) whether anti social elements have encroached upon such water bodies i n different parts of the country and if so, the details thereof particularly in Rajasthan; and

(d)  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  so  far  to  revive  such  water  bodies  and  to  free encroachment?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKH AWAT)

(a)  &  (b)  Ground  water  levels  in  various  parts  of  the  country  are  declining  because  o withdrawal  necessitated  by  increased  demand  of  fresh  water  for  various  uses,  vagaries increased population, industrial ization and urbanization etc.

Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management including conservatio harvesting and revival/rejuvenation of water bodies in the Country is primarily States' responsibility. However,  the  important measures  taken  by  the  Central  Government  for  conservatio management of ground water and effective implementation of rain water harvesting in the c available at the following URL:

http://jalshakti - dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps\_to\_control \_water\_depletion\_Feb2021.pdf.

In addition, a number of States have done notable work in the field conservation/harvesting. Of these, mention can be made of 'Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan' in Rajasthan, 'Jalyukt Shibar' in Maharashtra, 'Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan' in Gujarat, 'Mission Kakatiya' in Telangana, Neeru Chettu' in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, 'Jal Hi Jeevan' in Haryana among others.

o

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †547

ANSWERED ON 22.07 .2021

## REVIVAL OF WATER BOD IES

Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019, a time bound campaign with a mission mode approach intended to improve water availability including ground water conditi water stressed blocksof 256 districts in India. In this regard, teams of officers from Central Gove along - with technical officers from Ministry of Jal Shakti were deputed to visit water stresse to work in close collaboration with district level officials to undertake suitable interven 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan Catch the Rain ' campaign has been launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on 22 March 2021.

Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  is  implementing  National  Aquifer  Mapping  an Management program (NAQUIM), which envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable mana Ground Water Resources. The State - wise information is shared with States/Uts for implementation.

Ministry  of  Jal  shakti,  Department  of  Water  Res ources,  RD  &  GR(DoWR,  RD  &  GR)  is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs.6,000.00 crore Central Sector Scheme, for management of ground water resources with community participation. Atal Jal is being impleme water  stressed districts  and  8774  Gram  Panchayats  of  seven  States  viz.  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Ka Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

DoWR, RD & GR is implementing Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodi under  Pradhan  Mantri  Kri shi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)  with  main  objectives  as  comprehensiv improvement and restoration of water bodies thereby increasing tank storage capacity, impr catchment areas of tank command etc.

The  ongoing  6 th minor  irrigation  census  is,  for  the  first  time,  collecting  details bodies (both in rural and urban areas) irrespective of their use, and this will form the ba the health and spread of water bodies.

(c)No specific informat ion about encroachment of water bodies by anti - social elements is available.

(d) Water is a State subject and therefore, making the water bodies free from encroachment their  mandate.  Further,  as  per  the  Guidelines  of  RRR  scheme  States  are  t o  take  necessary  steps  for declaring the water body boundary through a Government order and ensure removal of encroach the  water  body  spread  area/water  body  boundary  before  submitting  a  proposal  for  release installment of Central Assistan ce.

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