Lok Sabha Question No. 831 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-07
Subject: Ground Water Management
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 831

ANSWERED ON 07.12.2023

## GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT

## 831. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the outcome of implementation of Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) scheme along with relevant data thereof;

- (b) whether the scheme has achieved its targets;
- (c) if so, the plan for further action, given that ground water remains a significant concern; and

(d) if not, the measures taken to address this issue?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) to (c) Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme, which is  being  implemented since 2007-08 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in the country. Major activities being taken up under the scheme include aquifer mapping for the entire country and other regular activities  of  CGWB  such  as  ground  water  level  and  quality  monitoring,  assessment  of  dynamic  ground water  resources  as  per  laid  down  periodicity  in  collaboration  with  States/UTs,  regulation  and  control  of ground water withdrawal in certain States/UTs, taking up few demonstrative recharge projects in selected water stressed areas, strengthening of scientific infrastructure for technological upgradation etc.

Gist of some of the major activities taken up under GWMR scheme is provided below :-

- I. One  of  the  main  activites  under  the  scheme  is  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management Programme  (NAQUIM)  which  is  being  implemented  with  the  objectives  to  delineate  and characterize the aquifers geometry and develop plans for sustainable ground water management. Aquifer mapping and management program has been completed by 31.03.2023 and has covered about 25 lakh sq.km area of the country. Further, aquifer maps and management plans are being shared with the State for suitable demand side and supply side interventions. The State-wise & area wise coverage is presented in Annexure.
- II. Further,  under  the  Scheme,  CGWB has also  carried out high  resolution  aquifer mapping using heli-borne  geophysical  survey  in  around  1  lakh  km 2 of  arid/semi-arid  areas  which  have  been completed.
- III. Ground water level monitoring - ground water levels on a regional scale is monitored through a network of nearly 26,000 monitoring wells spread over the entire country. Ground water levels are monitored four times a year during the months of January, April/ May, August and November. This Ministry has also initiated process for strengthening of monitoring network and automation of ground water level measurement.
- IV. Ground water quality monitoring - Sampling for ground water quality monitoring is done once a year  through  a  network  of  nearly  17,400  wells.  In  order  to  provide  safe  ground  water  to  the community, specific solutions have been provided by CGWB in Arsenic and Fluoride affected areas in parts of various states which have been adopted by state governments.
- V. Dynamic ground water resource assessment of the country, carried out jointly by CGWB and state governments,  is  now  being  conducted  annually.  Under  this  the  availability  of  dynamic  ground water, extractible and extracted ground water details are assessed and compiled at block level for the entire country and the results are published and shared with various other ministries and state governments for suitable policy making and execution of works related to ground water.
- VI. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB with States/UTs providing a broad outline of the project and expected 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 water. The Master Plan has been shared with States/UTs for suitable implementation.

To  ensure  continuity  of  the  activities,  the  scheme  has  been  approved  for  implementation  till  31 st March 2026 and includes activities like monitoring, assessment and regulation of groundwater resources and strengthening of infrastructure for technological upgradation.

(d) N.A.  in view of (b) and (c)

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 831  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.12.2023  REGARDING  'GROUND  WATER MANAGEMENT'.

## State-wise Coverage under NAQUIM

| Sl. No.   | State/UT             | Total Area (Sq.km)   | Area targeted for coverage (sq. km)   | Coverage till March 2023 (sq. km)   |
|-----------|----------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 1         | Andaman &Nicobar UT  | 8,249                | 1,774                                 | 1,774                               |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh       | 1,63,900             | 1,41,784                              | 1,41,784                            |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh    | 83,743               | 4,703                                 | 4,703                               |
| 4         | Assam                | 78,438               | 61,826                                | 61,826                              |
| 5         | Bihar                | 94,163               | 90,567                                | 90,567                              |
| 6         | Chandigarh UT        | 115                  | 115                                   | 115                                 |
| 7         | Chhattisgarh         | 1,36,034             | 96,000                                | 96,000                              |
| 8         | Dadra &Nagar Haveli, | 602                  | 602                                   | 602                                 |
| 9         | Daman &Diu UT        | 1,483                | 1,483                                 | 1,483                               |
| 10        | Goa                  | 3,702                | 3,702                                 | 3,702                               |
| 11        | Gujarat              | 1,96,024             | 1,60,978                              | 1,60,978                            |
| 12        | Haryana              | 44,212               | 44,179                                | 44,179                              |
| 13        | Himachal Pradesh     | 55,673               | 8,020                                 | 8,020                               |
| 14        | Jammu &Kashmir UT    | 1,67,396             | 9,506                                 | 9,506                               |
| 15        | Jharkhand            | 79,714               | 76,705                                | 76,705                              |
| 16        | Karnataka            | 1,91,808             | 1,91,719                              | 1,91,719                            |
| 17        | Kerala               | 38,863               | 28,088                                | 28,088                              |
| 18        | Lakshadweep UT       | 32                   | 32                                    | 32                                  |
| 19        | Ladakh UT            | 54,840               | 963                                   | 963                                 |
| 20        | Madhya Pradesh       | 3,08,000             | 2,69,349                              | 2,69,349                            |
| 21        | Maharashtra          | 3,07,713             | 2,59,914                              | 2,59,914                            |
| 22        | Manipur              | 22,327               | 2,559                                 | 2,559                               |
| 23        | Meghalaya            | 22,429               | 10,645                                | 10,645                              |
| 24        | Mizoram              | 21,081               | 700                                   | 700                                 |
| 25        | Nagaland             | 16,579               | 910                                   | 910                                 |
| 26        | Odisha               | 1,55,707             | 1,19,636                              | 1,19,636                            |
| 27        | Puducherry UT        | 479                  | 454                                   | 454                                 |
| 28        | Punjab               | 50,368               | 50,368                                | 50,368                              |
| 29        | Rajasthan            | 3,42,239             | 3,34,152                              | 3,34,152                            |
| 30        | Sikkim               | 7,096                | 1,496                                 | 1,496                               |
| 31        | Tamil Nadu           | 1,30,058             | 1,05,829                              | 1,05,829                            |
| 32        | Telangana            | 1,11,940             | 1,04,824                              | 1,04,824                            |
| 33        | Tripura              | 10,492               | 6,757                                 | 6,757                               |
| 34        | Uttar Pradesh        | 2,46,387             | 2,40,649                              | 2,40,649                            |
| 35        | Uttarakhand          | 53,484               | 11,430                                | 11,430                              |
| 36        | West Bengal          | 88,752               | 71,947                                | 71,947                              |
|           | Total                | 3294105              | 2514437                               | 2514437                             |