Lok Sabha Question No. 558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-25
Subject: Water Shortage
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 558

## ANSWERED ON 25.07.2024

## WATER SHORTAGE

## 558.  SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether global rating firm Moody has warned that India's growing water shortage can negatively affect the country's sovereign credit strength;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard;

(c) whether fast depleting water level in the country is severely affecting the industrial and economic sector like coal power generators and steel makers and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether per capita water availability in the country is likely to drop to 1367 cubic meters by 2031 from an already low 1486 cubic meters in 2021;

(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to conserve the water for future generation; and

(f)  whether  the  Government  has  started  any  initiative  or  awareness  campaign  among  people  about  the importance of conserving water and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  &  (b) According  to  global  rating  firm  Moody,  water  shortage  can  negatively  affect  the  India's sovereign credit strength as reported in various media reports.

The  average  annual  water  availability  for  any  region  or  country  is  largely  dependent upon  hydrometeorological  and  geological  factors.  As  per  study  titled  'Reassessment  of  Water  Availability  in  India using Space Inputs, 2019' conducted by Central Water Commission, the average annual per capita water availability  for  year  2021  and  2031  has  been  assessed  as  1486  cubic  meter  and  1367  cubic  meter respectively. Annual per-capita water availability of less than 1,700 cubic meters is considered as water stressed condition, whereas annual per-capita water availability below 1,000 cubic meters is considered as a water scarcity condition.

(c) Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  monitors  groundwater  levels  throughout  the  country  on  a regional  scale,  four  times  in  every  year  during  the  months  of  March/April/May,  August,  November  and January through a network of its Monitoring Wells. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has not conducted a specific study addressing the impact of rapidly depleting  water levels on the industrial and economic  sectors,  such  as  coal  power  generators  and  steel  makers.  However,  Central  Ground  Water Authority  (CGWA)  issues  'No  Objection  Certificate  (NOC)'  for  groundwater  extraction  to  industries, infrastructure projects and mining projects as per guidelines dated 24.09.2020, notified by Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and amendments dated 29.03.2023 thereto.

(d) & (e) 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.

Government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore in 8203 water stressed Gram Panchayats (GPs) of 229 administrative Blocks/ Talukas in 80 districts of 7 States, viz., Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar  Pradesh  for  a  period  of  5  years  from  01.04.2020.   The  scheme  marks  a  paradigm  shift  from groundwater development to groundwater management. The scheme focuses on demand side interventions (such as micro-irrigation,  crop  diversification,  use  of  pipelines  etc.)  as  well  as  supply  side  interventions (such as check dams, farm ponds and other artificial recharge/water conservation structures).

The Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched on National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2022 as a part  of  celebration  of  Azadi  Ka  Amrit  Mahotsav  with  an  objective  to  conserve  water  for  future.  The mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country.

Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to make provision of potable tap water supply to every rural household of the country at the service level of 55 litre per  capita  per  day  by  2024.  Apart  from  providing  tap  water  to  every  household,  JJM  focuses  on implementation  of  source  sustainability  measures  such  as  recharge  and  reuse  through  grey  water management,  water  conservation,  rainwater  harvesting  by  using  natural  vegetative  and  indigenous techniques.

Government of India has launched AMRUT 2.0 on 1st October, 2021 for a period of 5  years (FY 2021-  22  to  2025-26),  with  the  objective  of  providing  universal  coverage  of  water  supply  through functional household tap connections in all statutory towns in the country. AMRUT 2.0 focuses on making specified  cities  water  secure  through  recycle/  reuse  of  treated  sewage,  rejuvenation  of  water  bodies  and water conservation. Building Bye Laws in urban areas have been made to make rain water harvesting and recharging/injecting into the ground aquifer.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during the year 2015-16, with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and for expanding cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water  use efficiency,  introducing  sustainable  water  conservation  practices,  etc.  During 2016-17,  ninety-nine  (99)  on-going  major/  medium  irrigation  projects  in  the  country  having  balance estimated cost of Rs.77,595 crore under PMKSY-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) have been prioritised, in consultation with States, for completion in phases. The extension of PMKSY for the period  2021-22  to  2025-26  has  been  approved  by  Government  of  India,  with  an  overall  outlay  of  Rs. 93,068.56 crore.

The Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) Programme has been brought under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) - Har Khet Ko Pani from 2015-16 onwards. The main  objective  of  taking  up  CAD  works  is  to  enhance  utilization  of  irrigation  potential  created,  and improve agriculture production on a sustainable basis through Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM).

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing "Per Drop More Crop" component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which is operational from 2015-16 in the India. The PMKSY-  "Per  Drop  More  Crop"  mainly  focuses  on  water  use  efficiency  at  farm  level  through  micro irrigation (drip and sprinkler irrigation system).

The Government has set up the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission,  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti,  to  facilitate  promotion  of  water  use  efficiency  across  various  sectors namely irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, industries etc and inter alia also assess water footprint.

The Government of India formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) of interlinking of rivers for transferring water from surplus basins to deficit basins. National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular Component and 14 under Himalayan Component) for preparation of  Feasibility  Reports/  Detailed  Project  Reports  under  Inter-linking  of  Rivers  Project.  However,  river interlinking projects are largely dependent on consensus on water sharing between participating States.

Steps taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other Central Ministries for Water conservation, Control and  regulation  of  ground  water  and  to  promote  rain  water  harvesting  /  artificial  recharge/  water  use efficiency etc. can be seen at the URL:

https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2024/07/202407167063544 87.pdf

(f) 'Sahi Fasal' campaign was launched by National Water Mission (NWM) in 2019 to nudge farmers in the water stressed areas to grow crops which use water very efficiently, are economically remunerative, are healthy and nutritious, suited to the  agro-climatic-hydro characteristics of the  area,  and are  environment friendly.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan-I (JSA-I) was conducted in 2019 in 1,592 blocks out of 2,836 blocks in 256 water stressed districts of the country and was expanded as 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' (JSA:CTR) in 2021 with the theme 'Catch the Rain - Where it Falls When it Falls' to cover all the blocks of all districts (rural as well as urban areas) across the country. 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' (JSA:CTR) -2024 campaign,  the  fifth  in  the  series  of  JSAs,  was  launched  on  March  9,  2024.  This  campaign  covers  all districts in the country, both rural and urban, under the theme 'Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti' emphasizing the crucial role of women in water conservation. The focused interventions of the campaign include (i) water conservation and rainwater harvesting (ii) enumerating,geo-tagging & making inventory of all water bodies (iii) preparation of scientific plans for water conservation based on it Setting up of Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts (iv) intensive afforestation and (v) awareness generation.

Mass  awareness  programs  (Trainings,  Seminars,  Workshops,  Exhibitions,  Trade  Fairs,  and  Painting Competitions,  etc.)  are  conducted  from  time  to  time  each  year  under  the  Information,  Education  & Communication (IEC) Scheme of DoWR, RD & GR in various parts of the country to promote rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to groundwater.