Lok Sabha Question No. 1572 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Depleting Water Level in Gujarat
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1572

ANSWERED ON 13.02.2025

## DEPLETING WATER LEVEL IN GUJARAT

†1572.  SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the level of water is depleting in entire Gujarat including Banaskantha;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is making arrangements for water conservation in Gujarat including Banaskantha; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater levels throughout the country on a regional scale including Gujarat, four times in every year through its network of monitoring wells.

In order to assess the long term fluctuation in ground water levels, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2024 has been compared with the decadal mean water levels of November (2014-2023) for the state of Gujarat including the District of Banaskantha as detailed in Annexure. Perusal of such long term data on fluctuation of ground water levels in respect of Gujarat indicates that 88.11% of wells have registered rise in ground water levels in the state of Gujarat and in Banaskantha, 93.3% wells have registered rise.

(b) to (d) Water being a state subject and the responsibility of ground water management, including taking initiatives for improvement of ground water resources, lies primarily with the state governments. The Central Government  complements  the  efforts  of  the  States  by  providing  technical  support  and  financial  assistance through  its  various  schemes  and  projects.  However,  the  Central  Government  has  taken  several  steps  in  the direction of sustainable management of ground water resources of the country, including in Banaskantha and Gujarat, and some of the important ones are mentioned below:

- i. 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 underway in the country with a special focus on 151 priority districts, out of which 6 are in Gujarat, including Banaskantha. 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. In the past 4 years construction of more than 2 lakh water conservation structures has been completed/ongoing under JSA in Gujarat.

- ii. National Aquifer Mapping Studies have been carried out for the entire mappable area of the country including Gujarat. The total mappable area of Gujarat including Banaskantha has been covered under National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM). The District-wise groundwater management plans, containing recommendations for both demand and supply side interventions have been prepared and shared with State and District Authorities for implementation.
- iii. 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. Parts of Gujarat state including those of Banaskantha district are covered under the Scheme.
- iv. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB in coordination with States/UTs, providing a broad outline of the project and expected investments. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 1.42 crore Rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the Country to harness 185 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) of water. The Master plan has been shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions.A total of 13.36 lakh Rain water harvesting and  Artificial  recharge  structures  have  been  recommended  for  Gujarat,  with  around  21,000  for Banaskantha.
- v. Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA & FW), GoI, is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme in the country, including Gujarat, 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.
- 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, including Gujarat. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country with 2,650 in Gujarat and 99 in Banaskantha.
- vii. A total  of  3,078  nos.  Digital  Water  Level  Recorders  have  been  installed  in  Gujarat  under  various central  schemes  like  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  and  National  Hydrology  Project  (NHP)  to  monitor  the ground water level fluctuation on real time basis.

***

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1572 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 13.02.2025 REGARDING 'DEPLETING WATER LEVEL IN GUJARAT'.

Decadal comparison in water level between Mean of Post-monsoon 2014 to 2023 with Post-monsoon 2024 for the State of Gujarat (District-wise)

| S No   | District Name   | No of wells anal ysed   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   | No./Percentage of wells water level (m) in the range   |           |
|--------|-----------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------|
| S No   | District Name   | No of wells anal ysed   |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        | to 4 > 4                                               | to 4 > 4                                               |                                                        | Rise                                                   | Rise                                                   | Rise      |
| S No   | District Name   | No of wells anal ysed   | 0 to No.%                                              | 83.30                                                  | No.% 0                                                 | No.% 0                                                 | 0                                                      | No.% 0                                                 | 0                                                      | No.% 0                                                 | 1                                                      | No.%                                                   | No.% 16.75                                             | 83.3                                                   | 1                                                      | No.% 16.7 |
| 1      | Ahmedabad       | 6                       | 5                                                      |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        | 0                                                      |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        | 6                                                      | 16.2      |
| 2      | Amreli          | 37                      | 12                                                     | 32.410                                                 | 27                                                     | 9                                                      | 24.34                                                  | 10.80                                                  |                                                        | 0                                                      | 2                                                      | 5.4                                                    | 31                                                     | 83.8                                                   |                                                        |           |
| 3      | Anand           | 12                      | 9                                                      | 75 1                                                   | 8.3                                                    | 1                                                      | 8.3 1                                                  | 8.3                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 11                                                     | 91.7                                                   | 1                                                      | 8.3       |
| 4      | Arvalli         | 12                      | 5                                                      | 41.73                                                  | 25                                                     | 3                                                      | 25 1                                                   | 8.3                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 11                                                     | 91.7                                                   | 1                                                      | 8.3       |
| 5      | Banaskantha     | 15                      | 5                                                      | 33.39                                                  | 60                                                     | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 6.7                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 14                                                     | 93.3                                                   | 1                                                      | 6.7       |
| 6      | Bharuch         | 32                      | 19                                                     | 59.44                                                  |                                                        | 12.50                                                  | 1 0 9                                                  | 28.10                                                  |                                                        | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 23                                                     | 71.9                                                   | 9                                                      | 28.1      |
| 7      | Bhavnagar       | 31                      | 10                                                     | 32.36                                                  |                                                        | 19.47                                                  | 22.61                                                  | 3.2                                                    | 5                                                      |                                                        | 16.12                                                  | 6.5                                                    | 23                                                     | 74.2                                                   | 8                                                      | 25.8      |
| 8      | Botad           | 4                       | 2                                                      | 50 1                                                   | 25                                                     | 1                                                      | 25 0                                                   | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 4                                                      | 100.00                                                 |                                                        | 0.0       |
| 9      | Chhotaudepur    | 21                      | 9                                                      | 42.97                                                  |                                                        | 33.33                                                  | 14.32                                                  | 9.5                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 19                                                     | 90.5                                                   | 2                                                      | 9.5       |
| 10     | Dahod           | 25                      | 10                                                     | 40                                                     | 11 44                                                  | 1                                                      | 4                                                      | 12                                                     | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 22                                                     | 88.0                                                   | 3                                                      | 12.0      |
| 11     | Dangs           | 22                      | 14                                                     | 63.62                                                  | 9.1                                                    | 0                                                      | 3 0 6                                                  | 27.30                                                  |                                                        | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 16                                                     | 72.7                                                   | 6                                                      | 27.3      |
| 12     | Devbhumi Dwarka | 17                      | 7                                                      | 41.26                                                  |                                                        | 35.32                                                  | 11.82                                                  | 11.80                                                  |                                                        | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 15                                                     | 88.2                                                   | 2                                                      | 11.8      |
| 13     | Gandhinagar     | 1                       | 1                                                      | 100 0                                                  | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 1                                                      | 100.00                                                 |                                                        | 0.0       |
| 14     | Gir Somnath     | 10                      | 6                                                      | 60 3                                                   | 30                                                     | 1                                                      | 0 10 0                                                 | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 10                                                     | 100.00                                                 |                                                        | 0.0       |
| 15     | Jamnagar        | 17                      | 3                                                      | 17.67                                                  |                                                        | 41.25                                                  | 29.42                                                  | 11.80                                                  |                                                        | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 15                                                     | 88.2                                                   | 2                                                      | 11.8      |
| 16     | Junagadh        | 37                      | 9                                                      | 24.311                                                 |                                                        | 29.716                                                 | 43.20                                                  | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 1                                                      | 2.7                                                    | 36                                                     | 97.3                                                   | 1                                                      | 2.7       |
| 17     | Kachchh         | 30                      | 7                                                      | 23.310                                                 |                                                        | 33.38                                                  | 26.75                                                  | 16.70                                                  |                                                        | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 25                                                     | 83.3                                                   | 5                                                      | 16.7      |
| 18     | Kheda           | 12                      | 6                                                      | 50                                                     | 2                                                      | 16.73                                                  | 25 1                                                   | 8.3                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 11                                                     | 91.7                                                   | 1                                                      | 8.3       |
| 19     | Mahesana        | 16                      | 8                                                      | 50                                                     | 3                                                      | 18.83                                                  | 18.81                                                  | 6.3                                                    | 1                                                      | 6.3                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 14                                                     | 87.5                                                   | 2                                                      | 12.5      |
| 20     | Mahisagar       | 15                      | 7                                                      | 46.73                                                  |                                                        | 1                                                      | 6.7                                                    | 6.7                                                    |                                                        | 20                                                     | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 11                                                     | 73.3                                                   | 4                                                      | 26.7      |
| 21     | Morbi           |                         |                                                        |                                                        | 20                                                     |                                                        | 1                                                      |                                                        | 3                                                      |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |           |
|        |                 | 13                      | 5                                                      | 38.53                                                  |                                                        | 23.15                                                  | 38.50                                                  | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 13 16                                                  | 100.00                                                 |                                                        | 0.0       |
| 22 23  | Narmada Navsari | 19 18                   | 12 13                                                  | 63.24 72.25                                            |                                                        | 21.10                                                  | 0 3                                                    | 15.80 0                                                | 0                                                      | 0 0                                                    | 0 0                                                    | 0 0                                                    | 18                                                     | 84.2 100.00                                            | 3                                                      | 15.8 0.0  |
| 24     | Panch Mahals    | 21                      | 8                                                      | 38.18                                                  |                                                        | 27.80                                                  | 0 0                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      |                                                        |                                                        | 0                                                      | 21                                                     | 100.00                                                 |                                                        | 0.0       |
|        |                 |                         | 1                                                      |                                                        |                                                        | 38.15                                                  | 23.80 1                                                | 20                                                     | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 4                                                      |                                                        |                                                        |           |
| 25     | Patan           | 5                       |                                                        | 20                                                     | 2 40                                                   | 1                                                      | 20                                                     |                                                        |                                                        | 0                                                      | 0                                                      |                                                        |                                                        | 80.0                                                   | 1                                                      | 20.0      |
| 26     | Porbandar       | 26                      | 9                                                      | 34.67                                                  |                                                        | 26.910                                                 | 38.50                                                  | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 26                                                     | 100.00                                                 |                                                        | 0.0       |
| 27     | Rajkot          | 24                      | 1                                                      | 4.2                                                    | 11                                                     | 45.811                                                 | 45.81                                                  | 4.2                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 23                                                     | 95.8                                                   | 1                                                      | 4.2       |
| 28     | Sabar Kantha    | 25                      | 9                                                      | 36                                                     | 3 12                                                   | 12                                                     | 48 0                                                   | 0                                                      | 1                                                      | 4                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 24                                                     | 96.0                                                   | 1                                                      | 4.0       |
| 29     | Surat           | 24                      | 17                                                     | 70.83                                                  |                                                        | 12.53                                                  | 12.51                                                  | 4.2                                                    | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 23                                                     | 95.8                                                   | 1                                                      | 4.2       |
| 30     | Surendra nagar  | 26                      | 17                                                     | 65.44                                                  |                                                        | 15.42                                                  | 7.7 3                                                  |                                                        | 11.50                                                  | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 23                                                     | 88.5                                                   | 3                                                      | 11.5      |
|        |                 |                         |                                                        | 66.73                                                  |                                                        |                                                        | 8.3                                                    |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |                                                        |           |
| 31     | Tapi            | 12                      | 8                                                      |                                                        | 25                                                     | 1                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 12                                                     | 100.00                                                 |                                                        | 0.0       |
| 32 33  | Vadodara        | 15                      | 4 8                                                    | 26.72                                                  | 13.34                                                  |                                                        | 26.74 0 2                                              | 14.30                                                  | 26.70                                                  | 0                                                      | 0                                                      | 0 7.1                                                  | 10 11                                                  | 66.7                                                   | 4 3                                                    | 26.7 21.4 |
|        | Valsad Total    | 14 614                  |                                                        | 57.13                                                  | 21.40                                                  |                                                        | 26643.315725.611819.255                                | 9                                                      | 10                                                     | 0 1.6                                                  | 1 7                                                    | 1.1                                                    | 54188.1                                                | 78.6                                                   | 72                                                     | 11.7      |

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