Lok Sabha Question No. 1819 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-29
Subject: Ground Water Availability in Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1819

ANSWERED ON 29 .07 .2021

## GROUND WATER AVAILAB ILITY IN PUNJAB

## 1819. SHRIMATI HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the ground water availability to Punjab farmers f purposes and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Go vernment has also taken note that eighty percent of Punjab ground water blo dried up in a bid to provide foodgrains to the rest of the country and if so, the details the

(c) whether the Government has taken any note of such a serious situatio n of ground water in Punjab and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government has made any plan to help Punjab regain its precious water resourc the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## ( SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL )

(a) The dynamic ground water resources of the country including Punjab are being periodicall jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. As per the 2020 assessm Punjab,  the total  annual  ground  water  recharge  is  22.8  Billion  C ubic  Meter  (BCM)  and  the  annual extractable ground water resource is 20.6 BCM. The annual ground water extraction for all u BCM, out of which 32.8 BCM (97%) have been utilized for irrigation p urpose.

(b)& (c) Out of the total 150 assessment units (Blocks) in Punjab, 117 (78%) units have been as 'over -exploited' where annual ground water extraction is more than annual extractable ground water resource.  Further,  the  stage  of  ground water  extraction,  which  is  a  measure  of  annual  ground  w extraction  for  all  uses  (irrigation,  industrial  and  domestic  uses)  over  annual  extractab resource is 164% in Punjab as per the 2020 assessment.

(d) Water  being  a  State  subject,  i nitiatives  on  water  management  including  conservation  and  wa harvesting in the country is primarily States' responsibility. However, the important measures taken by the Central Government for conservation and management of ground water and effective im plem n ation of rain water harvesting in the country are available at the following URL:http://jalshakti -dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps\_to\_control\_water\_depletion\_Feb2021.pdf .

Government of India had launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019, a campaign to improve water availability, including ground water conditions, in the water stressed blocksof256 districts in India including 20 districts in Punjab. In this regard, teams of officers from Central Governme -with tech nical officers from Ministry of Jal Shakti were deputed to visit water stressed district close collaboration with district level officials to undertake suitable interventions.

This  year, Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  has  taken  up  the  'Jal  Shakti Abhiyan:  Catch  the  Rain' (JSA:CTR) with the theme 'Catch the Rain -Where it Falls When it Falls' to cover all the blocks of all districts (rural as well as urban areas) across the country during 22nd March 2021 to 30th No The campaign was lau nched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister 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), characterization and de velopment of aquifer management plans to facilitate sustainable managem ground water resources. The management plans under NAQUIM for Punjab have been prepared by the CGWB and have been shared with the State Government for taking up suitable interven tions.

Central Government supports construction of water harvesting and conservation work country, including in Punjab, primarily through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gu Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana -Watershed Development Component (PMKSY - WDC).

Ministry of Jal Shakti had circulated a model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes pr waterharvesting.  So  far,  19  States/UTs,  including  Punjab,  have  adopted  and  implemented  th water legislation.

Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater - 2020 has been prepared by CGWB in consultation with States/UTs. This is a macro level pl an indicating various structures for the diff terrain  conditions  of  the  country  including  estimated  cost.  In  Punjab,  the  master  pl construction  of  about  11  lakh  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial  recharge  structures  to Mill ion Cubic Metre (MCM) of monsoon rainfall.

Further,  some  of  the  initiatives  taken  by  Punjab  government  for  improving  gro conditions are given at Annexure .

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO IN  REPLY  TO  PART (d) OF  UNSTARRED  QUESTIO N NO. 1819  TO  BE  ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  29.0 7.2021  REGARDING 'GR OUND WATER AVAILABILITY I N PUNJAB'.

## Some of the initiatives taken up by Punjab Government

- The State has notified sowing of paddy nursery from 10 th May of the year and transplantation of  paddy  from  10  June  onwards  under  the  'Punjab  Preservation  of  Sub - Soil  Water  Act, 2009'.  The  transplantation  of  paddy  has  been  shifted  to  commensurate  with  onset  of monsoon season so as to conserve the precious ground water.
- All the paddy growing farmers of the state are being made aware of the benefits of t seeding of rice (DSR). They are also being encouraged to put at least some of th under DSR to have first - hand experience about the technology. In t he year 2019, about 501 thousand hectare area was covered under DSR which was increased in the year 2020 - 21 to 554.29 thousand hectare. In  addition,  short  duration  varieties  like  PR  126  are  also promoted.
- Under Crop Diversification Plan, farmers ar e being encouraged to replace paddy with less water consuming crops like maize and cotton.
- The 'Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao' Scheme was launched by Government of Punjab to check depletion of underground water by offering monetary benefits to the farmers for every unit of power they save.
- Punjab is promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devi drip, sprinklers, rain -guns etc. Further they provide subsidy to farmers for installation irrigation systems which use less water as compared to conventional pump sets.
- Roof Top Rain Water Harvesting has been made mandatory in all buildings above 200 yds. by amending the buildings by - laws.
- Government of Punjab has constructed low dams to provide irrigation facilities under Bh arat Nirman Program costing Rs. 170 crore. These dams indirectly help in augmenting the groun water resources of the State and help in arresting the declining ground water table.
- In  Punjab,  a  total  of  4,262  water  conservation/  water  harvesting  works  and 35,809 renovations of ponds works have been taken up under MGNREGS till 30th June, 2021.
- The  details  of  water  harvesting  structures  created/rejuvenated  under  PMKSY - WDC component in Punjab are as follows:
- Government  of  Punjab  has  enacted  the  Punjab Water  Resources  (Management  and Regulation)  Act,  2020  on  February  12,  2020  for  ensuring  the  judicious,  equitab sustainable utilization and management of the State's critical water resources. T Water Resources and Development Authority, 2020 had been established under section this Act which shall ensure development, management and conservation of water resou of the State.

| Assets Created/rejuvenated under PMKSY - WDC         | Assets Created/rejuvenated under PMKSY - WDC   | Assets Created/rejuvenated under PMKSY - WDC   | Assets Created/rejuvenated under PMKSY - WDC   | Assets Created/rejuvenated under PMKSY - WDC   | Assets Created/rejuvenated under PMKSY - WDC   | Assets Created/rejuvenated under PMKSY - WDC   |
|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Water Harvesting Structures - No. created/ renovated | Renovation of Erosion/Flood                    | Renovation of Erosion/Flood                    | Gully Plugs (In No)                            | Gabbion Structures In No)                      | ( Check Dams                                   | Total                                          |
|                                                      |                                                | Protection Walls ( In No)                      |                                                |                                                |                                                |                                                |
| 319                                                  | 8                                              | 341                                            | 447                                            | 813                                            | 60                                             | 1988                                           |

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