Lok Sabha Question No. 5016 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Use of Groundwater Resource in Bihar
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS' WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5016

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  APRIL, 2025

## USE OF GROUNDWATER RESOURCE IN BIHAR

## 5016. Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  implemented  any  schemes  for  the  efficient  use  of groundwater  resources  in  Bihar,  particularly  in  districts  like  West  Champaran  facing declining water tables; and

- (b) if so, the details and the current status of these schemes?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a)  &  (b)  Water  being  a  State  subject,  sustainable  development  and  management  of groundwater  resources is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments.  Central Government facilitates efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance  through  its  various  schemes  and  projects.  Government  has  taken  following steps  for  sustainable  development  of  ground  water  resources  in  the  country  including State of Bihar : -
- i. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR), in the  country  for  the  purpose  of  ground  water  mapping,  monitoring  and  development activities. Under the Scheme, ground water level monitoring is done four times a year. Comparison of the Post Monsoon 2023 level with the decadal mean level (Mean of Post Monsoon 2013-22 levels) shows that, in Bihar about 37% of the wells monitored have registered rise in ground water levels. For West Champaran, the analysis reveals that 50% of wells have registered rise.
- ii. CGWB  has  completed  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping  (NAQUIM)  Project  covering approximately  25  lakh  square  kms.  of  mappable  area  across  the  country,  including around 90,567 sq. km in the State of Bihar. The Aquifer maps and management plans have been prepared for all Districts, including West Champaran, and shared with the respective  State  agencies  for  implementation.  Aquifer  management  plans  prepared under NAQUIM, propose both supply side and demand side interventions.
- iii. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB  and  shared  with  States/UTs  providing  a  broad  outline  for  construction  of around 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness about 185 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) of water. Master Plan for the State of Bihar recommends construction of about 91 thousand structures in the State.
- iv. The  Government  has  been  implementing  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan  (JSA)  in  the  country since 2019. JSA is an umbrella campaign under which various ground water recharge and  conservation  related  works  are  being  taken  up  in  convergence  with  various Central  and State schemes. JSA 2024 was implemented in the country with special focus on 151 water stressed districts of the country, including 2 such districts in Bihar. JSA -2025 has been launched recently with the theme of 'Peoples' Action for Water Conservation - Towards Intensified Community Connect'.
- v. Mission  Amrit  Sarovar  was  launched  by  Government  of  India  which  aimed  at developing and rejuvenating at least 75  water bodies in each district of the country, including Bihar. Under  the mission Nearly  68,841 Amrit Sarovars  have  been constructed/rejuvenated in the country with 2,613 in Bihar.
- vi. Government  of  India  supports  construction  of  water  conservation  and  rain  water harvesting  in  States,  including  Bihar,  through  its  schemes  like  Mahatma  Gandhi National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS)  and  Pradhan  Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Watershed Development Component ( PMKSY-WDC).
- vii.  The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under the Ministry of  Jal  Shakti  for the purpose  of  regulation and control of ground  water development and management in the country. Abstraction cum use of groundwater in the country is regulated by CGWA by way of issuing NOCs as per the provisions of its Guidelines dated 24.09.2020 which have pan India applicability.
- viii.  This Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting. So  far, 21 States/UTs  have  adopted and implemented the ground water legislation, including Bihar.
- ix. As reported by State Government, Govt. of Bihar has implemented Jal Jeevan-Hariyali Mission for efficient use of ground water resources in Bihar, particularly in districts like West Champaran. Activities under Scheme include Rejuvenation of Ponds/Aahar/Pynes, Rejuvenation  of Wells  and Construction of Soak Pits/Recharge structures near Wells & Hand pumps.

Besides,  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers'  Welfare  (DA  &  FW),  GoI,  is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme in the country, including Bihar, since 2015-16,  which  focuses  on  enhancing  water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through  Micro Irrigation. An area of 32577 ha has been covered under Micro Irrigation in State of Bihar including West Champaran till date.

*****