Lok Sabha Question No. 2771 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Impact of National Water Awards
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Shri Hanuman Beniwal, Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre, Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2771

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2024

## IMPACT OF NATIONAL WATER AWARDS

2771.  SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL

SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE

SHRI RAMVIR SINGH BIDHURI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the impact of National Water Awards in development, conservation and efficient management of water as a national asset;

(b)  whether  the  said  awards  are  creating  awareness  about  the  importance  of  water  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has distributed water resources fairly among the States facing water scarcity and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the reasons for the failure of the Government in checking the continuous decline of groundwater level despite the institution of National Water Awards?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) & (b) National Water Awards (NWAs) focus on the good work and efforts made by individuals and organisations  across  the  country  in  attaining  the  government's  vision  of  a 'Jal  Samridh  Bharat'. The objective  of  these  awards  is  to  recognize  exemplary  work  done  by  people  in  the  water  sector  and  to motivate more and more people to work towards water conservation and water management with a greater zeal. The NWAs encourage various stakeholders including the States, Districts, Schools, Civil Societies, Gram Panchayats,  Urban  Local  Bodies,  Water  User  Associations,  Institutions,  Corporate  Sector,  etc.  to adopt holistic approach towards water resources management in the country. The National Water Awards not only celebrate achievements but also act as a catalyst for nationwide action in water conservation and making efficient water management an integral part of India's development narrative.

Since their inception in 2018, the NWAs have been instrumental in the propagation of the idea of water  conservation,  preservation  and  efficient  management  in  general  public.   It  has  got  reflected  in generation  of  the  mass  movement  through  community  level  participation  on  a  large  scale  in  water conservation campaign of 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan' of the Department. Under the Abhiyan, more than 1.05 crore water conservation related works have been completed, out of these nearly 34 lakh works are related to Water conservation and Rainwater Harvesting, 6.5 lakh works on renovation of traditional water bodies,

nearly 18.5 lakh related to Reuse and Recharge Structures and nearly 39 lakh works related to watershed development. Besides, NWAs have helped in successful mobilization of communities leading to significant improvements  in  the  groundwater  sector.   From  2019  onwards,  each  year,  the  majority  of  groundwater monitoring wells (Range 52% to 70%) have shown rising water levels compared to their average levels from  the  past  decade.  This  has  resulted  in  significant  decline  of  Over-exploited  Assessment  units  from nearly 17% in the year 2017 to 11% in 2023. While various other factors like rainfall patterns, effective monitoring,  support  of  respective  States/UTs,  etc  have  contributed  to  these  achievements  in  water conservation and management, the contribution of NWAs has been in the form of the awareness generation for successful implementation.

(c) Water being a State Subject, decision for distribution of water resources has to be taken by respective States. Transfer of water from surplus water basins to deficit regions among different States depends on consensus among concerned States.

Government of India has formulated National Perspective Plan (NPP) in the year 1980 to transfer surplus water to water deficit regions. National Perspective Plan (NPP) has been formulated for providing storage and transfer of water from surplus basins to water deficit regions to minimize the effects brought by droughts and also to mitigate the ravages of annually recurring floods.

(d) Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  monitors  groundwater  levels  throughout  the  country  on  a regional scale, four times in every year. In order to assess the long term fluctuation in ground water level, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2023 has been compared with the decadal mean of November water levels of ten years (2013-2022). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 51.7% of the wells monitored in the country have registered rise in ground water levels.

Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  aspects  related  to  water  resources  including  its  conservation  are studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities.  Role  of  Government of  India is limited to being catalytic, providing technical support and, in some  cases  partial  financial  assistance  in  terms  with  the  existing  schemes  being  implemented  by  the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

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