Lok Sabha Question No. 2003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-28
Subject: Recharge of Ground-water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: A. Chellakumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2003

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/07/2022

## RECHARGE OF GROUND-WATER

## 2003.  DR. A. CHELLAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether most of the schemes relating to supply of water in rural areas under Jal Jeevan Mission (Har Ghar Jal Yojana) are based on ground water and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether ground water level has been continuously depleting rapidly all over the country;

(c) if so, the scheme of the Government to recharge the water level of tubewells/borings in such a condition;

(d) whether adequate provision of funds have been made for this purpose under this scheme; and

(e) if so, the provision made to develop sources of ground water for permanent solution to the problem of drinking water?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) Since August, 2019, Government  of India, in partnership with States/ UTs, is implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  for  making  provision  of  tap  water  connection  to every  rural  household  by  2024.  Drinking  Water  is  a  State  subject  and  accordingly  the responsibility  to  plan,  design,  approve  and  implement  drinking  water  supply  schemes  lies with  States/  UTs.  Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  States/  UTs  by providing technical and financial assistance.

As  per  the  Operational  Guidelines  for  JJM,  States/UTs  may  take  up  both  ground-water  & surface-water  based  schemes  based  on  availability  of  water  both  in  terms  of  quantity  & quality as per local conditions.

Jal Jeevan Mission is still an ongoing scheme. However, at present, more number of ground water based schemes vis-à-vis surface water based schemes are reported to be taken up by States/UTs for providing tap water connections under JJM.

(b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is periodically monitoring the ground water levels throughout  the  country  including  urban  areas  on  a  regional  scale,  through  a  network  of monitoring wells. In order to assess the long-term fluctuation in ground water level, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2021 has been compared with the decadal mean of November (2011-2020). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 30% of the wells  monitored  have  registered  decline  in  ground  water  level  whereas,  about  70  %  wells have registered rise in water level.

(c) Water being a State subject, Water Management including regulation of ground water to control  depletion,  recharging  ground  water,  etc.  are  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the respective State Government. The Central Government facilitates the efforts taken by State Governments by providing technical and financial assistance.

However,  the  projects  taken  up  by  the  CGWB  under  Ground  Water  Management  and Regulation (GWM&R) scheme for recharging ground water in the Country are as follows :-

- Artificial Recharge work in select Aspirational Districts was taken up by CGWB in the year 2018 and completed in 2020. Suitable structures were constructed to harvest the runoff water in stream to store at suitable locations for augmenting recharge to the ground water in 3 aspirational districts: Osmanabad, Maharashtra,  YSR  Kadapa  district,  Andhra  Pradesh  and  Jangaon  district, Telangana. The structures constructed included check dams, percolation tanks, subsurface barrier, recharge wells and recharge shafts.
- CGWB took up a pilot  project  in  the  eastern  region  of  Maharashtra  covering districts  of  Wardha  and  Amravati  at  five  locations  for  construction  of  Bridge cum Bandhara (BCB) for ground water recharge. The structures serve the dual purposes of transportation as well as storage of water in the upstream side for drinking and irrigation needs. The project commenced in the year of 2018 and was completed in 2020.
- During 2021-22, CGWB has taken up the project on 'Groundwater augmentation through  artificial  recharge  in  identified  water  stressed  areas  of  Rajasthan, comprising  Jodhpur,  Jaisalmer  &  Sikar  districts  of  Rajasthan.  The  structures include check dams, anicuts and recharge shaft with ponds. So far, Rs. 9.42 Cr. has been released by CGWB to WAPCOS for execution.

(d)  GWM&R Scheme being  a  Central  Sector  Scheme,  no  funds  are  provided  to  the  State Governments.

Under JJM, provision has been made to include borewell recharge structures, as part of the estimates  for  schemes  based  on  groundwater  sources.  Further,  there  is  a  provision  for recharge of  ground water through convergence under various Central/ Centrally sponsored/ State Schemes.

Further, 15 th Finance Commission has recommended an allocation of Rs. 2,36,805 Crore to rural  local  bodies  (RLBs)  for  the  period  2021-22  to  2025-26,  out  of  which,  40%  of  the recommended grant is basic grant (untied) and the remaining 60% is tied grant for a.) drinking water,  rainwater  harvesting,  water  recycling,  and  b.)  sanitation  &  maintenance  of  the  ODF status.  Rural  local  bodies  can  use  the  tied  grants  on  drinking  water  and  sanitation  related activities  independently  and/or  in  convergence  with  the  funds  available  under  various schemes  of  Central  and  State  Governments  for  water  conservation,  groundwater  recharge, rainwater harvesting, greywater management, etc. with the aim to achieve, inter alia, water security.

(e) Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by CGWB in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different  terrain  conditions  of  the  country  including  estimated  cost.  The  Master  Plan envisages  construction  of  about  1.42  crore  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial  recharge structures  in  the  country  to  harness  185  Billion  Cubic  Metre  (BCM)  of  monsoon rainfall. DPR has to be prepared by the concerned line department at an implementable level like any other  water  supply  project  or  city  development  project.  Implementation  has  to  be  done through  existing  schemes  only  and  no  separate  scheme/fund  has  been  envisaged  for implementation.

The  other  important  steps  taken  by  the  Central  Government  for  sustainable  ground  water management in the country are available at http://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for%20 water\_depletion\_july2022.pdf

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