Lok Sabha Question No. 148 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Multiple Boards for Water related Issues
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *148

ANSWERED ON 01.08.2024

## MULTIPLE BOARDS FOR WATER RELATED ISSUES

*148.    SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  multiple  bodies  such  as  State  and  Central  Pollution  Control  Boards  and  the Central  Ground  Water  Board  etc.  at  both  State  and  Central  level  currently  bear  responsibility  for  issues related to water;
- (b) if so, whether it is a fact that such multiple bodies have led to time delays while adjudicating on essential matters;
- (c) if so, whether the Government has considered creating a central body with representation from all such bodies at the State and Central level so that essential decisions may be taken without undue time delays; and (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PAATIL)

(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *148 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2024 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING 'MULTIPLE BOARDS FOR WATER RELATED ISSUES'

(a) Water  management  in  India  is  primarily  a  responsibility  of  State  Governments,  the  Central Government's roles and responsibilities being only supportive. Various agencies having distinct mandates, roles and jurisdictions are working in the water sector. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), established under The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of streams and wells. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, is a multidisciplinary scientific organization tasked with managing, exploring, monitoring, assessing, augmenting and regulating the country's groundwater resources. State Ground Water Authorities, formed under State legislation or government orders, regulate groundwater resources within their jurisdictions. The Central  Ground  Water Authority,  established under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, oversees groundwater regulation in states and union Territories that do not have their own regulatory mechanisms.

(b) Since  all  the  bodies  have  independent  area  of  work  function  there  is  no  reported  time  delay  in adjudication on essential matters.

(c) & d) The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been taking various initiatives to create a common platform for various central and state agencies involved in the water management sector for proper exchange of views, capacity  building  and  enhancing  the  ease  of  operations.  In  this  direction,  a  National  Interdepartmental Steering  Committee  (NISC)  under  the  Chairmanship  of  the  Secretary,  Department  of  Water  Resources, River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation,  has  been  constituted  for  the  management  of  overall  water resources  in  the  country  including  groundwater  through  cohesive,  holistic  manner  and  with  unified approach.  Members  of  the  NISC  include  representatives  from  allied  Central  Ministries/Departments  and State Governments, which meets annually.

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