Lok Sabha Question No. 1907 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Review of Groundwater Action Plan
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1907

ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025

## REVIEW OF GROUNDWATER ACTION PLAN

## 1907. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that despite announcing a multi-decadal action plan through 2070 to regulate groundwater use and conserve existing reserves, the implementation on the ground remains negligible leading to accelerating depletion in places like Bengaluru and Kashmir and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  dealing  with  violations  related  to  borewell  drilling  and compliance with rainwater harvesting mandates along with the steps taken/being taken to ensure these measures are implemented by States;

(c) whether there is any mechanism to monitor progress against the 2070 water regulation targets, if so, the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  for  not  establishing  clear  milestones  and  accountability frameworks;

(d)  the  immediate  corrective  action  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  operationalise  the  plan before  irreversible  groundwater  collapse  and  to  ensure  State-wise  implementation  across  all  critical regions identified; and

(e) whether the Government would commission an independent performance review of the groundwater action plan within six months to assess its effectiveness and recommend course corrections and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) The  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  monitors  groundwater  levels  throughout  the  country including  Bengaluru  and  Kashmir,  four  times  in  every  year.  In  Kashmir  (covering  6  districts  of  the valley), analysis of ground water level data collected during post-monsoon (November) 2024 indicates that about 96.7% of monitored wells are having water levels at less than 10 mbgl(meters below ground level).  Similarly,  in  Bengaluru  (for  both  Bengaluru  Urban  and  Rural  Districts  combined),  the  data indicates that approximately 96% of the monitored wells have water levels at less than 10 mbgl.

(b) In  order  to  facilitate  the  states  in  their  endeavour  towards  proper  regulation  and  management  of ground  water  resources,  this  Ministry  had  drafted  a  Model  'Groundwater  (Regulation  and  Control  of Development and Management) Bill' providing a regulatory framework to curb indiscriminate extraction of  ground  water  while  also  making  provisions  for  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial  recharge.  The Model Bill has been circulated to all States/UTs and so far 21 States/UTs have adopted it. Further, the Central Ground Water Authority(CGWA) has been established under the Ministry, which is regulating the  extraction  of  ground  water  for  industrial  and  other  commercial  purposes  in  19  states  and  UTs,  in accordance with the provisions of its Guidelines dated 24.09.2020, which have pan India applicability. The  Guidelines  have  stringent  measures  to  regulate  unlawful  extraction  which  include  imposition  of heavy Environmental Compensation (EC) charges, penalties and  even sealing of bore wells in  certain cases.

This Ministry has been consistently following up with the state governments for prudent regulation and sustainable management of ground water resources through regular correspondence, seminars, state water ministers' and chief secretaries' level conferences and by taking up the issues through the National Interdepartmental  Steering  Committee  (NISC)  on  ground  water,  headed  by  Secretary,  D/o  Water Resources. CGWA is also regularly corresponding and holding discussions with the states for setting up their own regulatory mechanisms and wherever established to make them more effective.

(c) & (d) The M/o Jal Shakti is constantly monitoring and reviewing the ground water situation in the country through its organization like CGWB and CGWA and also is implementing targeted schemes and interventions for improvement. Under Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM &R) scheme, CGWB regularly  monitors  ground  water  levels  and  quality  throughout  the  country  and  also  conducts annual ground water resource assessment, in coordination with the states. The reports are disseminated to all stakeholders and brought out in public domain so that early action can be initiated in vulnerable and priority areas. Additionally, the following measures are being taken to ensure ground water sustainability in the country :

-  The Government is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country since 2019 which is a mission mode and time bound programme for harvesting the rainfall and taking up water conservation activities. Currently, JSA 2025 is being implemented in the country with special focus  on  over-exploited  and  critical  districts.  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.
-  Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB for the entire country 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 185 BCM (Billion cubic meter).

-  The government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana in 80 water stressed districts of 7  states  which  has  community  led  sustainable  management  of  ground  water  resources  and demand management as its core theme.
-  Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA & FW), GoI, is implementing Per Drop More  Crop  Scheme  in  the  country,  since  2015-16, which  focuses  on  enhancing  water  use efficiency  at  farm  level  through  Micro  Irrigation  and  better  on-farm  water  management practices to optimize the use of available water resources.
-  Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched by the Government of India which aimed at developing and  rejuvenating  at  least  75  water  bodies  in  each  district  of  the  country.  As  an  outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country.
-  To further strengthen the momentum of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: A Community-Driven Path to Water Sustainability in India has been launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister with a vision to make rain water harvesting a mass movement in the country. By promoting community ownership and responsibility, the initiative seeks to develop costeffective, local solutions tailored to specific water challenges across different regions.

(e) Water is a state subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the states to sustainably manage their ground water resources. Hence, most of the water sector schemes and plans are formulated, implemented and supervised by the state governments. Wherever, central contribution is involved by way of central sector  and  centrally  sponsored  schemes,  the  central  government  has  established  its  own  review  and monitoring  mechanism  for  effective  implementation  of  such  schemes.  Also  impact  assessment  is regularly done for all such schemes and independent 3 rd party evaluation also is taken up from time to time which help in adopting course correction measures and improving the scheme design. Moreover, such  measures  also  ensure  effectiveness,  transparency  and  accountability  in  handling  of  ground  water issues.

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