Lok Sabha Question No. 1218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Implementation of NAQUIM
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Supriya Sadanand Sule, DNV Senthilkumar. S.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1218

ANSWERED ON 27.07.2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF NAQUIM

| 1218.   | DR. AMOLRAMSING KOLHE   | DR. SUBHASH RAMRAOBHAMRE   |
|---------|-------------------------|----------------------------|
|         | SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA | SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE      |
|         | DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S. |                            |

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) Programme;

- (b) if so, the details of aims and objectives thereof;
- (c) the constraints faced by the Government while implementing the programme;
- (d) whether the Government has any contemplation to delineate and characterize the aquifers to develop plans for ground water management and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the total geographical area of the country which is likely to be covered under the programme;
- (f) whether the Government has set any timeframe to achieve the target under the said scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (g)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  the  steps  to  provide  safe  and  clean  drinking  water  under AMRUT scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (h)  whether  the  Government  is  also  working  on  recycle/reuse  of  used  water  in  selected  cities  under AMRUT scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a)  to  (b) Yes  sir.  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  taken  up  Aquifer  Mapping  and Management Programme (NAQUIM) since 2012, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation.  NAQUIM   aimed  to  delineate  aquifer  (water  bearing  formations)  disposition  and  their characterization  for  preparation  of  aquifer/  area  specific  ground  water  management  plans  with community participation. The management plans are shared with the respective State Governments for suitable implementation.

(c) NAQUIM study was an innovative gigantic task to cover nearly 25.00 Lakh Sq KM of mappable area of the country with an aim to map & characterise the various aquifer system of the country in a time-bound  manner  to  make  expeditious  availability  of  groundwater  related  information  for  suitable interventions to the stake-holders. The study was taken up at a 1:50000 scale with recommendations of creation of recharge structures on a macro level. At this scale, the NAQUIM report gives information which can be suitably implemented on ground with reasonably good outcomes.

(d) to (f) As mentioned above, the NAQUIM studies for the entire country have been taken up by the CGWB for delineation and characterisation of aquifers and development of groundwater management plans. Out of nearly 33 Lakh Sq. Km of geographical area of the country, the mappable area of around 25 Lakh Sq. Km was identified to be covered under NAQUIM. The entire identified area has already been covered by the CGWB before 31 st March 2023.

(g) Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  (MoH&UA) through Atal  Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is supplementing the efforts of State Government to provide safe and clean  drinking  water in  urban  areas.  AMRUT  was launched on June 25, 2015, in 500 selected cities across the country covering around 60% of the Urban Population.

Further, AMRUT focuses on development of basic urban infrastructure in the selected cities in the sectors  of  Water  Supply,  Sewerage  &  Septage  Management,  Storm  Water  Drainage,  Non-Motorised Urban  Transport,  and  Permeable  Green  Spaces  &  Parks.  In  Water  Supply  sector,  State/Urban  Local Bodies(ULBs) may take up projects related to new/augmentation/rehabilitation of water supply system; rejuvenation of water bodies for water supply and recharge of ground water etc.

In  addition,  to  carry  forward  the  momentum  of  AMRUT  and  saturate  entire  urban-scape  having about 4,902 statutory towns of the country, to ensure universal coverage of water supply & make 4,902 statutory  towns  of  the  country  'water  secure',  AMRUT  2.0  was  launched  on  1 st October  2021  for  a period of five years. On-going AMRUT Mission-1.0 has been subsumed under AMRUT 2.0.

Further, through water supply projects taken up under AMRUT, to provide clean & safe drinking water to citizens, so far, 3,289 Million Liters per Day (MLD) water treatment capacity has been created.

(h) Recycle / reuse of used water is one of the focus areas under AMRUT. Against the approved plan size  of  Rs  77,640  crore,  Rs  32,456  crore  (around  42%)  have  been  allocated  for  Sewerage  projects including  Sewage  Treatment  Plants  (STPs).  Further,  States/UTs  have  taken  up  various  Sewerage projects including STPs under which 3,342  MLD STP capacity have been created from which 1,437 MLD have been developed for recycle/reuse purposes.