Lok Sabha Question No. 4132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Development of Water Resources and Infrastructure in Odisha
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4132

ANSWERED ON 19.12.2024

## DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN ODISHA

## 4132. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)   the details of ongoing projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) including the number of rural households provided with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in Odisha till date;
- (b)  the  funds  allocated,  disbursed  and  utilized  for  the  implementation  of  JJM  and  other  water related development schemes in Odisha during the last five years and the current year;
- (c)   the steps taken/being taken by the Government to address water scarcity issues in drought-prone areas and manage excess water issues in flood-prone regions of Odisha;
- (d)  whether the Government is implementing any specific programmes for the revival of traditional water bodies and conservation of groundwater in Odisha and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)   the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  irrigation  infrastructure  in Odisha including the modernization of  canals,  construction  of  dams  and  promotion  of  micro irrigation techniques, specifically in Kandhamal Parliamentary Constituency?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household of the country, including those in flood-affected and drought-prone areas in the State of Odisha , through functional tap water connection.

At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.11 lakh (3.5%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Odisha. So far, as reported by the State as on 16.12.2024, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal around 64.27 lakh additional rural households have been  provided  with  tap  water  connections.  Thus,  as  on  16.12.2024,  out  of  88.70  lakh  rural households in  the  State,  around  67.38  lakh  (75.96%)  households  are  reported  to  have  tap  water supply in their homes.

Numerous projects inter alia including projects aimed at strengthening water storage, distribution systems, or purification facilities are implemented concurrently at various levels across the States for  achieving  the  envisaged  objectives.  Water  being  a  State  subject,  project-wise  details  of individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply projects are not maintained at the Government of India level.

(b) The year-wise details of total fund allocation made and the quantum of fund utilized under JJM, as reported by State of Odisha, are as under:

(Amount in Rs. Crore)

|          | Central share   | Central share   | Central share   | Central share   | Central share        | Expenditure under State share   |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|---------------------------------|
| Year     | Opening Balance | Fund allocated  | Fund drawn      | Available fund  | Reported utilization |                                 |
| 2019-20  | 0.78            | 364.74          | 364.74          | 365.52          | 260.46               | 241.12                          |
| 2020-21  | 105.07          | 812.15          | 609.11          | 714.18          | 686.41               | 671.98                          |
| 2021-22  | 27.77           | 3,323.42        | 2,492.56        | 2,520.33        | 1,305.79             | 1,288.36                        |
| 2022-23  | 1,214.54        | 3,608.62        | 1,768.73        | 2,983.27        | 2,166.00             | 2,143.19                        |
| 2023-24  | 817.27          | 2,108.54        | 2,108.54        | 2,925.81        | 2,441.58             | 2,428.16                        |
| 2024-25* | 484.23          | 2,455.94        | 368.39          | 852.62          | 513.73               | 511.19                          |

* (As on 16.12.2024)

Source: JJM-IMIS

(c)  &  (d)  While  implementing  the  Mission,  emphasis  is  laid  on  management  of  drinking  water supply  during  extreme  situations  such  as  floods,  heatwaves,  etc.  States/  UTs  have  also  been advised to carefully select the locations of rural water supply infrastructure to have protection from floods, cyclone, landslides, land slips, impact of earthquake; deploy resilient infrastructure; comply with codal provisions issued for earthquake/ flood or cyclone/ landslide prone areas.

Moreover,  for  disaster  prone  areas,  like  coastal  areas,  flood  prone  tracts,  Himalayan  States  etc. States  have  been  advised  for  raising  of  platforms  for  handpumps/  tap  connections,  ensure  their functionality from time to time to work as interim solution in the event of natural disasters. Further, plan for stationing permanent mobile water purification plants at the nearest possible safe locations and develop an inventory of these plants; enable access to prepositioned emergency water supply kits camps and other mass displacement situations, supply of adequate purification kits; setting up of  mobile water purification plants in  affected area;  water quality  surveillance  with  reference  to disease surveillance using field test kits; have also been envisaged for emergency preparedness.

Further,  provision  of  flexi  funds  has  been  made  in  the  operational  guidelines  of  JJM  to  take  up works for restoration of water supply schemes in case of natural disasters.

As  informed  by  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), various steps have been taken to address water scarcity issues in drought-prone areas and manage excess water issues in flood-prone regions in the country including Odisha are as follows: -

- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)  has  completed the National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Project in the entire mappable area of about 25 Lakh sq. km including Odisha (1.19 Lakh Sq. km area). The Aquifer maps and management plans have been prepared and shared

with the respective State agencies for implementation. The management plans include various water conservation measures through demand side and supply side interventions.

- CGWB has 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. 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  including  construction  of  about  22 thousand  Rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial  recharge  structures  in  Odisha . DPR  has  to  be prepared by the concerned line department of the respective State Government  at  an implementable level like any other water supply project or city development project. The Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been circulated to all the States/UTs and is being implemented in one district in each state through convergence with state schemes.
- 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 highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall. It also inter-alia, advocates  conservation  of  river,  river  bodies  and  infrastructure  should  be  undertaken  in  a scientifically  planned  manner  through  community  participation.  Further,  encroachment  and diversion of water bodies and drainage channels must not be allowed and wherever, it has taken place, it should be restored to the extent feasible and maintained properly.
- Central  Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA)  has  been  constituted  under  section  3(3)  of  the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 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 in the country by way of issuing NOCs as per the provisions of its Guidelines dated 24.09.2020 and amendments dated 29.03.2023. The guidelines also advise States/ UTs to review to work further towards crop rotation/ diversification/ other initiatives to reduce overdependence on groundwater.
- Besides,  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.

Apart  from  this,  important  steps  taken  by  the  Central  Government  for  sustainable  ground  water management in the country including Odisha can be seen at https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2024/07/202407167 06354487.pdf.

Also, as per information received from Directorate of Ground Water Development, Government of Odisha, two nos. of schemes namely CHHATA (Community Harnessing & Harvesting Rain Water Artificially  from Terrace to Aquifer) & ARUA (Artificial Recharge to Underground Aquifer) has being  introduced  by  the  Government  to  conserve  and  efficient  use  of  water  and  to  increase  the ground water level

(e)  'Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY)'  is  being  implemented  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. Har

Khet  Ko  Pani  (HKKP)  is  one  of  the  components  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana (PMKSY). The scheme of Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies is a part of PMKSY-HKKP. DoWR, RD & GR provides Central Assistance (CA) to States for creation and restoration of Irrigation Potential (I.P.) under the SMI and RRR of Water Bodies schemes. Central Assistance/grant under SMI scheme has been provided for projects, inter-alia ,  for  benefitting  special  areas  i.e.  undivided  Koraput,  Bolangir  and  Kalahandi  (KBK) districts of Odisha.

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