Lok Sabha Question No. 4078 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Over-exploitation of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Aditya Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4078

ANSWERED ON 19.12.2024

## OVER-EXPLOITATION OF GROUND WATER

## 4078.    SHRI ADITYA YADAV

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that the country has just four per cent of the world's freshwater resources and the groundwater is heavily over-exploited, far beyond the volumes of annual recharge and if so, the details thereof; and

(b)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  develop  and  maintain  the  systems  for groundwater recharge keeping in mind that the country accounts for a quarter of global groundwater usage i.e. an amount that exceeds the combined total usage of China and the United States of America (USA)?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) The  government  is  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  India  is  one  of  the  largest  users  of  groundwater  in  the world and that the country has roughly 4% of the world's fresh water reserves to cater to the needs of its population which is around 17% of the world's total.

As  per  the  Dynamic  Ground  Water  Resource  Assessment  Report  for  the  year  2023,  total  annual ground water recharge has been assessed at 449 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM), the total annual extractable groundwater  resource  for  the  country  is  estimated  as  407.21  BCM  and  the  total  annual  groundwater extraction for all purposes stands at 241.34 BCM. Further, on comparing the resource assessment report of 2023  with  that  of  2017,  it  emerges  that  the  share  of  'Safe'  Assessment  Units  (AUs)  in  the  country  has increased from 62.6% to 73.1% while that of 'Over-Exploited' Units has reduced from 17.2% to 11.2% in the said period.

(b) Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  issues  related  to  development,  regulation  and  management  of  water resources, including ground water, are primarily the responsibilities of the state governments. The Central Government complements the efforts of the state governments by providing technical support and financial assistance through its institutions and various centrally sponsored schemes. Some of the important measures taken by the Central Government for water conservation and to improve ground water recharge in the country are listed below: -

- i. National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, which, inter-alia ,  calls for rainwater harvesting and conservation of water, mapping the

aquifers of the country, proper regulation of extraction by setting up regulatory authorities and integrated development of surface and ground water.

- ii. 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 2024 is being implemented in the country with special focus on 151 water stressed districts of the country. 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.
- iii. CGWB has taken  up  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  Programme  (NAQUIM) with an aim to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization. Entire mappable area of the country of around 25 lakh sq. km, has been mapped under the scheme and management plans have been shared with the respective State governments for implementation. The plans comprise  of  recommendations  for  demand  management  as  well  as  construction  of  artificial recharge structures.
- iv. 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) of water.
- v. MoJS is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana, which is a community led scheme for participatory ground water management focusing on demand side management of ground water in 80 water stressed  districts  in  7  States.  Construction  of  various  rain  water  harvesting  and  recharge structures like check dams, ponds, shafts etc. are incentivized under the scheme.
- vi. 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.
- vii. Details of several other significant initiatives of the Government of India for improvement of groundwater  situation  in  the  country  can  be  seen  through  the  link  below-https://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/document/steps-taken-by-the-central-government-to-control-water-depletion-andpromote-rain-water-harvesting-conservation/
- viii. In addition, a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting. Some of them can be mentioned as 'Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan'  in  Rajasthan,  'Jalyukt  Shivar'  in  Maharashtra,  'Sujalam  Sufalam  Abhiyan'  in Gujarat,  'Mission  Kakatiya'  in  Telangana,  Neeru  Chettu'  in  Andhra  Pradesh,  Jal  Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, 'Jal Hi Jeevan' in Haryana, 'Kudimaramath' scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.

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