Lok Sabha Question No. 3149 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Water Conservation
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Anoop Pradhan Valmiki

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3149

## ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025

## WATER CONSERVATION

## †3149. SHRI ANOOP PRADHAN VALMIKI

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

(a) whether the Government is planning to focus more on water conservation and reduce its use in the agriculture sector which takes away a major part of this essential resource;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to recharge underground aquifers and replenish major reservoirs across the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  aspects  related  to  water  resources  including  its conservation are studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. The Central Government supplements the measures and efforts being taken up by the State Governments.

However, the Government of India takes various initiatives on water conservation and its efficient use in the agriculture sector. Major steps taken by the Government for water conservation and rainwater harvesting to manage the increasing water stress in the country are as follows:

- i. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019 on an annual basis. In the current year, Ministry of Jal Shakti is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) 2025, 6th in the series of JSAs, in all the districts (rural as well as urban) of the country. JSA: CTR is a convergence of various Central Government schemes and  funds  like  MGNREGS,  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation (AMRUT), Per Drop More Crop, Repair, Renovation and Restoration Components under the Pradhan Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  (PMKSY),  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA),  Finance Commission grants, State Government schemes, Corporate Social Responsibility  (CSR) funds  etc.  One  of  the  major interventions undertaken under the campaign includes constructions and repair or rainwater harvesting  structures  including  rooftop  and  water  harvesting  structures.  The  details  of

intervention-wise progress of JSA:CTR across the country and Uttar Pradesh is attached at Annexure-I .

To further strengthen JSA: CTR, 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' (JSJB) initiative was launched  in  Surat,  Gujarat  on  06th  September,  2024,  which  focuses  on  intensifying community mobilization to build low cost rainwater harvesting structures in saturation mode. The Jal Sanchay programme started in Gujarat by leveraging community funds, individual donations, Corporate Social Responsibility Funds etc. for construction of low cost structures like  borewells,  recharge  shafts,  recharge  pits,  using  locally  available  material,  to  harvest rainwater, to boost ground water level and provide local tailor made solution to water issues. A  total  of  27,62,620  artificial  groundwater  recharge  and  storage  works  were  on-boarded under JSJB 1.0, out of which 23,83,162 works have been completed, as on 31st May 2025. The  details  of  district-wise  progess  under  JSJB  initiative  in  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  is attached at Annexure-II .

- ii. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has set up the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National  Water  Mission  on  20.10.2022,  to  act  as  a  facilitator  for  promotion  of  improving water use efficiency across various sectors namely irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, industries, etc. in the country. To promote water conservation and reduce usage in  the  agriculture  sector,  BWUE  completed  16  baseline  studies  across  major  and  medium reservoirs/dams in various states. These studies evaluated water use efficiency by examining dam/reservoir performance, conveyance and on-farm application efficiencies, and irrigation potential utilization. Based on comprehensive field data, the reports offer detailed recommendations such as canal lining, modernization of irrigation infrastructure, adoption of micro-irrigation techniques, and crop diversification strategies.
- iii. Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  completed  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping (NAQUIM) Project in the entire  mappable  area  of  about  25  lakh  sq.  km.  which  has  been shared with the respective State agencies for implementation. The management plans include various  water  conservation  measures  through  recharge  structures.  Based  on  NAQUIM studies, groundwater management plans are prepared wherein crop-diversification, promotion and adoption of water use efficiency & conservation practices viz. drip/sprinkler are proposed as one of the demand side management measures for sustainable groundwater development.  The  management  plans  are  prepared  and  shared  with  the  respective  State governments  for  taking  appropriate  measures  /  implementation.  CGWB  also  prepared  a Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 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.

- iv. The  Cabinet  approved  the  Modernization  of  Command  Area  Development  and  Water Management  (MCAD)  as  a  sub-scheme  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana (PMKSY) for the period 2025-2026 with an initial total outlay of Rs.1600 crore. The scheme aims for modernization of the irrigation water supply network to supply of irrigation water from existing canals or other sources in a designated cluster.  It focuses on creating robust backend infrastructure for micro-irrigation by farmers from established source to the Farm gate  with  underground  pressurized  piped  irrigation  increasing  the  Water  Use  Efficiency (WUE) at the farm level, agriculture production & productivity and result in reduced usage of water in agriculture sector.
- v. Government of India has been implementing  a scheme namely Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  which  inter-alia  includes water conservation and water harvesting structures.
- vi. Financial  assistance  is  given  to  various  States  under  15th  Finance  Commission  tied  grants which can be inter-alia utilized for rainwater harvesting.
- vii. Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT)  has  provisions  for harvesting the rainwater through storm water drains into water body (which is not receiving sewage/effluent).  Through  preparation  of  'Aquifer  Management  Plan'  cities  targets  to strategize groundwater recharge augmentation by developing a roadmap for improving rain water  harvesting  within  city  limits.  Through  IEC  campaign,  awareness  is  created  about practices for water conservation like rainwater harvesting.
- viii. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs formulated guidelines for the States to adopt measures suitable  to  local  conditions,  such  as  Unified  Building  Bye  Laws  (UBBL)  of  Delhi,  2016, Model  Building  Bye  Laws  (MBBL),  2016  and  Urban  and  Regional  Development  Plan Formulation  and  Implementation  (URDPFI)  Guidelines,  2014  with  adequate  focus  on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.
- ix. Government of  India  is  implementing  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  in  80  districts  of  7  States,  viz., Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for a period of 6 years from 01.04.2020. The scheme marks a paradigm shift from groundwater development to groundwater management.
- x. Government of  India  is  implementing  'Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana  (PMKSY)' with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured  irrigation,  improve  on  farm  water  use  efficiency,  introduce  sustainable  water conservation  practices  etc.  PMKSY  has  three  components/  schemes  namely  Har  Khet  Ko Pani  (HKKP),  Repair,  Renovation  &  Restoration  (RRR)  Scheme  of  Water  Bodies  and Surface Minor irrigation (SMI) Scheme.

- xi. National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR,  which  inter-alia  advocates  rainwater  harvesting  and  conservation  of  water  and  also highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.
- xii. Department of Land Resources (DoLR) implements Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) for the development of rainfed and degraded  lands  in  the  country.  The  activities  undertaken,  inter-alia,  include  ridge  area treatment,  drainage  line  treatment,  soil  and  moisture  conservation,  rainwater  harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, livelihoods for asset-less persons etc. WDC-PMKSY, through  these  interventions,  seeks  to  ensure  sustainable  development  through  improved natural resource management and better resilience of farmers to climate change
- xiii. The  activity  of  installing  rainwater  harvesting  structures  at  the  Gram  Panchayat  level  has been included in the Panchayat Development Plan (PDP) for Panchayats to opt for the same as  per  their  needs  for  execution  from  XV  Finance  Commission  (FC)  funds  or  any  other available funds with them. Further, Revamped scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) also provides support to States/UTs for Capacity Building and training of Elected Representatives (ERs) of Panchayats, Officials and other stakeholders of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
- xiv. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is promoting various efficient water use techniques in agriculture sector  such  as  micro-irrigation  (drip  and  sprinkler  irrigation  systems),  crop  diversification towards  low  water  consuming  crops,  laser  land  levelling,  Direct  Seeding  of  Rice,  ZeroTill/Minimum tillage, Mulching, polyhouse/shade-nets etc to reduce groundwater extraction in agriculture. These systems help in reducing water use by 40-80% while improving crop yield.  Through  schemes  like  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  various  water  conservation  structures including ponds, check dams, and rooftop rainwater harvesting structures are constructed to replenish groundwater levels.

***

ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3149 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2025 REGARDING 'WATER CONSERVATION'.

| Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain (across country)   |
|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    | Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    | Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    | Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    | Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    | Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    | Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    | Intervention-Wise Status Report (JSA 2019 - 2025)    |
| *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     | *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     | *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     | *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     | *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     | *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     | *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     | *Figures Showing No. of Works Completed &Ongoing     |
|                                                      | S.No.Year                                            | Water Conservation and Rain Water Harvesting         | Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies               | Reuse and Recharge Structures                        | Watershed Development                                | Total Water Related Works                            | Intensive Afforestation                              |
| 1                                                    | 2019                                                 | 273256                                               | 44497                                                | 142740                                               | 159354                                               | 619,847                                              | 123,599,566                                          |
| 2                                                    | 2021                                                 | 1627677                                              | 295836                                               | 832596                                               | 1918913                                              | 4,675,022                                            | 367,660,580                                          |
| 3                                                    | 2022                                                 | 1241770                                              | 267782                                               | 872489                                               | 1628706                                              | 4,010,747                                            | 783,836,035                                          |
| 4                                                    | 2023                                                 | 1242357                                              | 283786                                               | 680256                                               | 1484611                                              | 3,691,010                                            | 55,026,292                                           |
| 5                                                    | 2024                                                 | 1301806                                              | 308711                                               | 534564                                               | 2021450                                              | 4,166,531                                            | 64,845,783                                           |
| 6                                                    | 2025                                                 | 700287                                               | 107760                                               | 170916                                               | 703393                                               | 1,682,356                                            | 17,408,545                                           |
| Total                                                | Total                                                | 6,387,153                                            | 1,308,372                                            | 3,233,561                                            | 7,916,427                                            | 18,845,513                                           | 1,412,376,801                                        |

| Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain                                                         | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain                                                         | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain                                                         | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain                                                         | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain                                                         | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain                                                         | Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain                                                         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti UTTAR PRADESH - Intervention wise Progress | National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti UTTAR PRADESH - Intervention wise Progress | National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti UTTAR PRADESH - Intervention wise Progress | National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti UTTAR PRADESH - Intervention wise Progress | National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti UTTAR PRADESH - Intervention wise Progress | National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti UTTAR PRADESH - Intervention wise Progress | National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti UTTAR PRADESH - Intervention wise Progress |
| JSA Year                                                                                  | Water Conservation and Rain Water Harvesting                                              | Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies                                                    | Reuse and Recharge Structures                                                             | Watershed Development                                                                     | Total Water Related Works (Year-wise)                                                     | Intensive Afforestation                                                                   |
| 2021                                                                                      | 86599                                                                                     | 35944                                                                                     | 44610                                                                                     | 407109                                                                                    | 574262                                                                                    | 6188274                                                                                   |
| 2022                                                                                      | 112283                                                                                    | 53502                                                                                     | 39264                                                                                     | 494147                                                                                    | 699196                                                                                    | 20993215                                                                                  |
| 2023                                                                                      | 101619                                                                                    | 45078                                                                                     | 49372                                                                                     | 401270                                                                                    | 597339                                                                                    | 400735974                                                                                 |
| 2024                                                                                      | 130475                                                                                    | 48370                                                                                     | 32402                                                                                     | 576702                                                                                    | 787949                                                                                    | 33063528                                                                                  |
| 2025                                                                                      | 56810                                                                                     | 18074                                                                                     | 6411                                                                                      | 213579                                                                                    | 294874                                                                                    | 2643315                                                                                   |
| Total                                                                                     | 487786                                                                                    | 200968                                                                                    | 172059                                                                                    | 2092807                                                                                   | 2953620                                                                                   | 463624306                                                                                 |

## ANNEXURE-II

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3149 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2025 REGARDING 'WATER CONSERVATION'.

| District-wise progress under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0   | District-wise progress under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0   | District-wise progress under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0   | District-wise progress under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| (Status as on 31.05.2025)                                    | (Status as on 31.05.2025)                                    | (Status as on 31.05.2025)                                    | (Status as on 31.05.2025)                                    |
| S.No State                                                   | S.No State                                                   | District                                                     | Completed Works                                              |
| 1                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | AGRA                                                         | 212                                                          |
| 2                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | ALIGARH                                                      | 82                                                           |
| 3                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | AMBEDKAR NAGAR                                               | 5                                                            |
| 4                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | Amethi                                                       | 279                                                          |
| 5                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | AMROHA                                                       | 2387                                                         |
| 6                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | AURAIYA                                                      | 24                                                           |
| 7                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | AYODHYA                                                      | 97                                                           |
| 8                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | AZAMGARH                                                     | 585                                                          |
| 9                                                            | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BAGHPAT                                                      | 1023                                                         |
| 10                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BAHRAICH                                                     | 320                                                          |
| 11                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BALLIA                                                       | 65                                                           |
| 12                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BALRAMPUR                                                    | 488                                                          |
| 13                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BANDA                                                        | 67                                                           |
| 14                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BARABANKI                                                    | 252                                                          |
| 15                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BAREILLY                                                     | 128                                                          |
| 16                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BASTI                                                        | 1                                                            |
| 17                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BHADOHI                                                      | 5                                                            |
| 18                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BIJNOR                                                       | 1666                                                         |
| 19                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BUDAUN                                                       | 49                                                           |
| 20                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | BULANDSHAHR                                                  | 270                                                          |
| 21                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | CHANDAULI                                                    | 37                                                           |
| 22                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | CHITRAKOOT                                                   | 15761                                                        |
| 23                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | DEORIA                                                       | 17                                                           |
| 24                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | ETAH                                                         | 94                                                           |
| 25                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | ETAWAH                                                       | 265                                                          |
| 26                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | FARRUKHABAD                                                  | 200                                                          |
| 27                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | FATEHPUR                                                     | 127                                                          |
| 28                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | FIROZABAD                                                    | 51                                                           |
| 29                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | GAUTAM NAGAR                                                 | BUDDHA 182                                                   |
| 30                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | GHAZIABAD                                                    | 148                                                          |
| 31                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | GHAZIPUR                                                     | 344                                                          |
| 32                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | GONDA                                                        | 4                                                            |
| 33                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | HAMIRPUR                                                     | 54                                                           |
| 34                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | HAPUR                                                        | 149                                                          |
| 35                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | HARDOI                                                       | 32                                                           |
| 36                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | HATHRAS                                                      | 11                                                           |
| 37                                                           | UTTAR PRADESH                                                | JALAUN                                                       | 16279                                                        |

| 38    | UTTAR PRADESH   | JAUNPUR           |   2641 |
|-------|-----------------|-------------------|--------|
| 39    | UTTAR PRADESH   | JHANSI            |   1214 |
| 40    | UTTAR PRADESH   | KANNAUJ           |    313 |
| 41    | UTTAR PRADESH   | KANPUR DEHAT      |    126 |
| 42    | UTTAR PRADESH   | KANPUR NAGAR      |     37 |
| 43    | UTTAR PRADESH   | Kasganj           |     22 |
| 44    | UTTAR PRADESH   | KAUSHAMBI         |    285 |
| 45    | UTTAR PRADESH   | KHERI             |     10 |
| 46    | UTTAR PRADESH   | KUSHINAGAR        |     49 |
| 47    | UTTAR PRADESH   | LALITPUR          |   1256 |
| 48    | UTTAR PRADESH   | LUCKNOW           |    200 |
| 49    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MAHARAJGANJ       |     15 |
| 50    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MAHOBA            |    746 |
| 51    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MAINPURI          |    234 |
| 52    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MATHURA           |     34 |
| 53    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MAU               |    711 |
| 54    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MEERUT            |    403 |
| 55    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MIRZAPUR          |  35509 |
| 56    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MORADABAD         |     10 |
| 57    | UTTAR PRADESH   | MUZAFFARNAGAR     |    163 |
| 58    | UTTAR PRADESH   | PILIBHIT          |    272 |
| 59    | UTTAR PRADESH   | PRATAPGARH        |    312 |
| 60    | UTTAR PRADESH   | PRAYAGRAJ         |     55 |
| 61    | UTTAR PRADESH   | RAE BARELI        |     23 |
| 62    | UTTAR PRADESH   | RAMPUR            |    233 |
| 63    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SAHARANPUR        |     56 |
| 64    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SAMBHAL           |    362 |
| 65    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SANT KABEER NAGAR |    720 |
| 66    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SHAHJAHANPUR      |    248 |
| 67    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SHAMLI            |     73 |
| 68    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SHRAVASTI         |    106 |
| 69    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SIDDHARTH NAGAR   |      3 |
| 70    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SITAPUR           |     24 |
| 71    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SONBHADRA         |     42 |
| 72    | UTTAR PRADESH   | SULTANPUR         |   2516 |
| 73    | UTTAR PRADESH   | UNNAO             |    126 |
| 74    | UTTAR PRADESH   | VARANASI          |  24409 |
| Total | Total           | Total             | 115318 |

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