Lok Sabha Question No. 4666 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Water Resource Management
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4666

## ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025

## WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

## 4666.   THIRU ARUN NEHRU:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government has undertaken any  steps to assess  and plan for climate  risks related to water availability especially in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the role of river basin planning, aquifer mapping and data sharing in water management;

(c) whether hydrological forecasting and early warning systems are being developed in vulnerable areas like Perambalur in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the manner in which inter-State coordination is being promoted for equitable water distribution; and

(e) the manner in which integrated water resource management strengthens climate resilience and rural development?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) 'Water'  being a state subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes.

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme, is carrying out nationwide activities such as groundwater exploration, monitoring of water  levels  and  water  quality,  and  assessment  of  groundwater  resources  to  understand  the  broader impacts  of  climate  variability  and  change.  CGWB  in  consultation  with  State  Government  has  been conducting  the  Dynamic  Ground  Water  Resource  Assessment  annually  since  2022  including  Tamil Nadu  to  provide  updated  estimates  of  groundwater  availability,  extraction,  and  allocation,  which  are essential for assessing the impact of rainfall variability, droughts, and other climate-related stresses on water resources.

Under  National  Water  Mission  (NWM),  States  &  UTs  have  been  asked  to  prepare  their  State Specific Action Plans (SSAPs).  SSAPs aim to recognize climate risks and strengthen integrated water resources management in the context of climate change. Financial assistance of Rs. 50 lakhs to major States  and  Rs.  30  lakhs  to  minor  States,  along  with  technical  guidance  from  NIH,  Roorkee,  and NERIWALM, Tezpur is being provided to the States. State of Tamil Nadu has prepared first component of SSAP i.e. Draft Status Report (DSR), which has been approved by the competent authority.

(b) River basin planning, aquifer mapping and data sharing play a crucial role in water management. River  basin  planning  promotes  holistic  management  of  surface  and  groundwater.  Aquifer  mapping,

being undertaken through the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB),  provides detailed information on the geometry, characteristics, and potential of aquifers. On the basis of these maps, scientific management plans are prepared, which recommend both supply-side interventions such as artificial recharge and demand-side measures such as efficient irrigation practices. These plans enable States and Union Territories to adopt region-specific strategies for water conservation and sustainable groundwater development. Data sharing builds trust among riparian states and stakeholders and enables early warning systems and coordinated responses.

(c) As a non-structural measure of flood management, Central Water Commission (CWC) issues shortrange  flood  forecasts  with  a  lead  time  up  to  24  hrs  to  concerned  State  Governments  at  identified locations. CWC also monitors and issues inflow forecasts to identified reservoirs for proper reservoir regulation. Presently, flood forecasts are issued by CWC at 350 stations (150 Inflow Forecast Stations + 200 Level Forecast Stations) as per Standard Operating Procedure. The network has been established in consultation  with  State  Govt.  /Project  authorities.  The  details  list  of  flood  forecast  stations  in  Tamil Nadu is provided in Annexure. During flood season 2024, total 398 number of forecast (20 Level and 378 Inflow) were issued for the State Tamil Nadu.

In  Perambalur  district,  a  Hydrological  Observation  (H.O.)  site  is  located  at  V.  Kalathur  on  the Swetha Nadi, a tributary of the Vellar River. V.Kalathur station is base station to Wellington reservoir (inflow forecast station). In addition to that, the Venganur & Melakalpoondi H.O. Sites also act as base station to the wellington reservoir which is located in the district of Cuddalore adjoining to Perambalur district.

(d) Inter-State coordination is being promoted through legal and institutional frameworks for equitable water  distribution.  Parliament  has  enacted  Inter-State  River  Water  Disputes  (ISRWD)  Act,  1956  for adjudication  of  water  disputes.  When  any  request  under  the  said  Act  is  received  from  any  State Government in respect of any water dispute on the inter- State rivers and the Central Government is of the opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, the Central Government constitutes a Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication.

There  are  various  Boards/Authorities  such  as  Krishna  River  Management  Board  (KRMB), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Betwa River Board (BRB), Upper Yamuna River Board (UYRB),  Cauvery  Water  Management  Authority  (CWMA)  etc  to  address  inter-state  issues  and coordination  among  basin  States.  Further,  inter-State  matters  are  also  discussed  in  respective  Zonal Council meetings. There is proper representation of States in Committees constituted by Government of India on water related matters.

(e) Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is a holistic approach that integrates water, land, and  ecosystem  management  to  promote  sustainability.  Through  detailed  aquifer  mapping  under NAQUIM,  CGWB  prepares  scientific  and  area-specific  groundwater  management  plans.  These management  plans  emphasize  judicious  use  of  groundwater  and  recommends  both  supply-side  and demand-side  interventions  which  States  can  adopt  to  improve  local  water  security  and  sustainable ground water development and management. Similarly, the annual Ground Water Resource Assessments provide  updated  information  on  groundwater  availability  and  stress  conditions,  allowing  for  timely planning to withstand the impacts of climate variability and decentralized planning.

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## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4666  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  21.08.2025  REGARDING  'WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT'.

## DETAILS OF CWC FLOOD FORECASTING STATIONS IN TAMILNADU

Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains 17 Flood Forecasting (FF) stations in Tamil Nadu. Out  of  17  forecasting  Stations,  04  are  level  forecasting  stations  and  13  are  inflow  forecasting stations in river Cauvery and its tributaries basin.

| Flood Forecasting (FF) stations in Tamil Nadu   | Flood Forecasting (FF) stations in Tamil Nadu   | Flood Forecasting (FF) stations in Tamil Nadu   | Flood Forecasting (FF) stations in Tamil Nadu   |
|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
|                                                 | Sl.No.Name of the river                         | Name of FF site                                 | District                                        |
| 1                                               | 2                                               | 3                                               | 4                                               |
| Level Forecast                                  | Level Forecast                                  | Level Forecast                                  | Level Forecast                                  |
| 1                                               | Cauvery                                         | Musiri(Srirangam)                               | Tiruchirappalli                                 |
| 2                                               | Cauvery                                         | Kodumudi (Erode)                                | Erode                                           |
| 3                                               | Bhavani                                         | Savandapur (Bhavani)                            | Erode                                           |
| 4                                               | Vaigai                                          | Madurai                                         | Madurai                                         |
| Inflow Forecast                                 | Inflow Forecast                                 | Inflow Forecast                                 | Inflow Forecast                                 |
| 1                                               | Cauvery                                         | Mettur Dam                                      | Salem                                           |
| 2                                               | Bhavani                                         | Bhavanisagar Dam                                | Erode                                           |
| 3                                               | Cauvery                                         | Grand Anicut                                    | Thanjavur                                       |
| 4                                               | Cauvery                                         | Upper Anicut                                    | Tiruchirappalli                                 |
| 5                                               | Vaigai                                          | Vaigai Dam                                      | Theni                                           |
| 6                                               | Kosasthaliyar                                   | Poondi Satyamurthy Resvr                        | Tiruvallur                                      |
| 7                                               | Kodaganar                                       | Kodaganar Dam                                   | Dindugul                                        |
| 8                                               | Vellar                                          | Gomukhi Dam                                     | Villupuram                                      |
| 9                                               | Periyar Odai                                    | Wellington Dam                                  | Cuddalore (adjoining Perambalur district)       |
| 10                                              | Ponnaiyar                                       | Sathanur Dam                                    | Tiruvannamalai                                  |
| 11                                              | Adyar                                           | Chembarampakkam Lake                            | Tiruvallur                                      |
| 12                                              | Thamirabharoni                                  | Manimuthar Dam                                  | Tirunelveli                                     |
| 13                                              | Thenprnnai                                      | Krishnagiri dam                                 | krishnagiri                                     |

Source: Central Water Commission