Lok Sabha Question No. 1208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Ground Water Extraction
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1208

ANSWERED ON 27.07.2023

## GROUND WATER EXTRACTION

†1208. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the ground water extraction has declined in the country;

(b) if so, whether the Government is considering to further bring down the extraction of ground water;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) The  Dynamic  Ground  Water  Resources  of  the  country  are  being  periodically  assessed  jointly  by Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  and  State  Governments.  The  comparison  between  latest assessment  (2022)  with  the  2017  assessment  indicates  that  the  average  'Stage  of  Ground  Water Extraction(i.e.  gross  groundwater  extraction  for  all  uses  on  an  average  to  available  groundwater resource)'  for  the  country  as  a  whole  improved  to  60.08%  (2022  assessment)  as  compared  to  63.33% (2017 assessment).

Further  annual  groundwater  extraction  for  various  uses  in  the  country  as  per  2022  and  2017 assessments  are  239.16  Billion  Cubic  Metre  (BCM)  and  248.69  BCM  indicating  a  lesser  overall groundwater extraction of around 9.53 BCM.

(b) Yes  sir.  Government  is  promoting  the  conjunctive  use  of  groundwater  and  surface  water  for sustainable management of the water resources in the country specially targeting the water stressed areas by  promoting  community  based  interventions  at  village  level  using  scientific/innovative  means  like identifying and characterising the aquifers for its proper management at finer scale, preparation/implementation of water security plans at village levels, use of micro-irrigation practices like sprinkler/drip irrigation systems, real time groundwater level monitoring and its dissemination to stakeholders etc.

(c) Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  efforts  to  reduce  extraction  of  groundwater  including  effectively harvest  the  rainwater/recharge  of  groundwater  for  its  sustainable  management  falls  in  the  mandate  of

State Government, however, Central Government has taken a number of steps in this direction which can be seen in the web-link :

https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2023/02/2023021742.pdf Some of the important steps for reducing groundwater extraction in the country are as under:

- i. Agriculture being one of the major extractors of groundwater  in the country, Central Government is promoting participatory groundwater management in the country with community participation at village level for conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater based  on  scientific  means.  Further,  crop  diversification,  crop  rotation,  use  of  micro  irrigation techniques  like  drip/sprinkler  irrigation  systems,  increasing  water  use  efficiency  by  use  of improved techniques, availability of surface water through canal-based system, energy efficient electric tariff policy etc are being vigorously promoted in agriculture sector.
- ii. Central  Government  is  implementing  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  involving  the  local  communities  at village  levels  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.  6,000  crore,  in  collaboration  with  States,  in  certain  water stressed  areas  of  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Rajasthan  and Uttar  Pradesh.  Under  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana,  the  focus  is  on  demand  side  management  of  the ground  water  and  accordingly  water  saving  interventions  such  as  use  of  micro  irrigation (drip/sprinkler system), shifting of cropping patter from high water intensive crops to low water intensive crops, use of pipe in irrigation to reduce losses, mulching etc. are being encouraged and incentivised.
- iii. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme  which  is  operational  from  2015-16  in  the  country.  PDMC  focuses  on  water  use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation mainly (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation System).
- iv. Central  Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA)  has  been  constituted  under  section  3(3)  of  the "Environment (Protection) Act, 1986" for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water by industries, mining projects, infrastructure projects etc in the country. The regulation guideline in this regard with pan-India applicability was notified by the Department of Water Resources, RD & GR on 24 September 2020 with subsequent amendment on 29 March 2023. CGWA and States issue No  Objection Certificate (NOC)  for  extraction of groundwater  to various industries/project proponents as per their jurisdiction and as per the extant guidelines.

(d) Question does not arise in view of the reply given at part (c).

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