Lok Sabha Question No. 38 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-02
Subject: Role of Water Sector
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Chandra Sekhar Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 38

ANSWERED ON 02.02.2023

## ROLE OF WATER SECTOR

38. DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE

SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

- SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India's water sector would play a crucial role in reaching the heights that the country aspires to be in the coming years;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Ministry  has  recently  organised  the  first  All  India  Annual  State  Ministers Conference on Water with the theme 'Water Vision@2047';
- (c) if so, the aims and objectives of the conference along with the details of the States which participated in the Conference;
- (d) the details of the action plan discussed in the aforesaid conference; and
- (e)  the  details  of  the  steps  suggested  for  addressing  the  water  security  challenges  as  a  part  of  the India@2047 plan along with the response of the State Governments thereon?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

- (a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Water is intrinsic not only to life but also to economic growth and development. The State Ministers' Conference with the theme 'Water Vision@2047' was organized on 5 - 6 January, 2023 at Bhopal in this context.
- (c) The primary objective of the Conference was to deliberate on Water Vision@2047 with the States. 33 States/Union Territories participated in the Conference, including Ministers from 25 States/UTs.
- (d) & (e) Details of action plan discussed and the steps suggested to address water need upto 2047 by Central  and  State  Governments  are annexed .  The  response  of  the  State  Governments  was  positive  as evidenced by their enthusiastic participation and exchange of ideas during the Conference.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (d) & (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 38 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2023 ON ' ROLE OF WATER SECTOR ' ACTION PLAN AND KEY RECOMMENDATIONS OF 1ST ALL INDIA ANNUAL

## STATE MINISTERS' CONFERENCE ON WATER VISION @2047

1. Need for a more comprehensive and integrated Water Vision@2047, including adaption and mitigation strategies with  timeline,  addressing both demand and supply side needs. Need for a Task Force on Water Vision@2047   to  work  out  a  complete  strategy  for  implementation  of  the  recommendations  of  the Conference,  clearly outlining the role of Central Government and State Governments with deliverables and timelines to achieve the outcomes of a water secure future .
2. To minimize loss of water in the water conveyance system, building of piped distribution network may be encouraged.
3. Micro irrigation may be promoted in an accelerated manner to utilize the estimated potential of about 70 million hectares fully.
4. Use of technology including IoT in irrigation may be promoted to optimize water uses on one hand, and improve productivity on the other.
5.  People's  participation  or jan  bhagidari is  key  to  sustainability  of  initiatives  in  the  water  sector. Formation of Water Users Association in Command Area, their effective functioning and linking them to Farmers' Producer Organisations (FPOs) is important to reduce the IPC-IPU gap estimated to be about 20%. Village water and sanitation committees to be actively engaged in operation & maintenance of rural drinking water schemes.
6.  A  single  regulating  body  is  required  at  the  State  level,  for  groundwater  as  well  as  surface  water, including water pricing and reuse of waste water to regulate the water sector in a holistic manner.
7. Mapping of health of drinking water sources and measures to restore health of degraded sources (both quality  and  sustainability)  through  convergence  of  resources  need  to  be  undertaken.  Springshed management in hill areas may be promoted in a focused manner for this purpose.
8.  Use  of  geo-sensing,  geo-mapping,  remote  sensing  and  3-D  modeling  may  be  promoted  for  better assessment and planning of water resources.
9. Circular economy in water sector may be promoted by treating all waste water generated in urban areas and re-using such treated used water progressively. In rural areas also, grey water should be reused / used to recharge groundwater.
10. Water budgeting and management (both supply and demand sides) at gram panchayat and village as well as town/city level may be taken up universally with people's participation and leadership of rural and urban local bodies.

N e w s N e t o r k

11. Water storage capacity may be enhanced, both at large scale and small scale, to manage existing and future demand and build climate resilience.

12. Effective management of sedimentation in reservoirs, rivers and other water bodies through suitable means may be encouraged.

13.  Potable  water  for  drinking  should  have  priority  over  all  other  uses  of  water.  Areas  and  regions vulnerable to shortage of drinking water should be mapped and connected to the water grid suitably.

14. Inter-basin transfer of water from flood prone areas should be encouraged.

15.  Agriculture  uses  80-90%  of  water;  therefore  appropriate  cropping  patterns,  crop  varieties,  efficient water utilization may be promoted with 'whole of Government' approach.

16. Industry may be encouraged to become water efficient and adopt zero liquid discharge (ZLD).

17. Assessment of water quality should be taken up regularly at appropriate intervals for groundwater as well as of different stretches of rivers. Quality of drinking water must be stringently monitored including at  household  level.  Effective  action  needs  to  be  taken  to  restore  water  quality  in  affected  areas,  or stretches. Natural farming may be encouraged near river bank to avoid pollution by chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

18.  River  health  needs  to  be  managed  holistically  with  the  help  of  the  catchment  from  surrounding wetlands. Appropriate e-flow should be provided for.

19.  Robustness  of  irrigation  infrastructure  may  be  ensured  by  allocating  adequate  resources  for  its operation and maintenance.

20. Safety inspection of dams and their proper upkeep may be ensured as mandated.

21.  Initiatives  such  as  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan  as  well  as  initiatives  taken  by  State  Governments  may  be embedded in the administrative procedure for their timely execution in a sustained manner.

22. Flood plain zoning may be taken up in all vulnerable areas for taking appropriate mitigating, early warning and regulatory measures.

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