Lok Sabha Question No. 4001 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Amrit Sarovar Scheme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Bastipati Nagaraju, Shri Arvind Dharmapuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4001 ANSWERED ON 25/03/2025

## AMRIT SAROVAR SCHEME

## 4001. SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI: SHRI BASTIPATI NAGARAJU:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  estimated  volume  of  water  storage  capacity under  Mission  AmritSarovar,  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  Statewise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  set  any  revised  targets  beyond the  initial  goal  of  creating  50,000  Amit  Sarovars,    if  so,  the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any studies to assess the impact  of the initiatives  on  groundwork  recharge  in drought-prone and water-stressed regions, if so, the key findings thereof;
- (d) whether there are any provisions for local community participation, including Panchayati  Raj  Institutions,  in  the maintenance  and  sustainability  of  these  water  bodies,  if  so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  devised  any  mechanism  to prevent encroachment and pollution of the developed AmritSarovar sites, if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a)to(e):  Mission AmritSarovar was launched in April 2022 with the ambitious  goal  of  constructing  or  rejuvenating  75  AmritSarovars (ponds)  in  each  district,  totaling  50,000  across  the  country.  Each AmritSarovar was to have pondage area of about 1 acre (except in case of States/UTs with hilly terrain) with water holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic meters (except in case of hilly terrain states.)

As on 20-03-2025, over 68,000 AmritSarovars have been completed, State-wise  details  of  which  are  at  Annexure.  This  initiative  has made  significant  contribution  in  addressing  the  critical  issue  of water scarcity and enhancing surface and groundwater availability across  various  regions.  These  Sarovars  have  not  only  addressed immediate  water  needs  but  also  established  sustainable  water long-term sources, symbolizing Government commitment to environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Mission AmritSarovar works are being taken up by the States and Districts in convergence with various ongoing schemes such as Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme Grants, the besides States'  own  schemes.  Public  contributions  like  crowdfunding  and

(Mahatma Gandhi NREGS), 15th Finance Commission Pradhan MantriKrishiSinchayiYojna sub-schemes such as Watershed Development Component, HarKhetkoPani, Corporate Social Responsibility are also allowed for the work.

Phase II of Mission AmritSarovar is envisaged to continue with a  renewed  focus  on  ensuring  water  availability,  with  community participation  (Jan  Bhagidaari)  at  its  core,  and  aims  to  strengthen climate  resilience,  foster  ecological  balance,  and  deliver  lasting benefits for future generations.

Peoples' participation has been the key to the entire Mission. To encourage mobilization of citizens and non- Government resources for  supplementing  the  Government's  efforts  to  achieve  the  target, explicit provisions have been made in the guidelines of the Mission AmritSarovar as follows:

- Laying the foundation stone for the AmritSarovar to be led by freedom  fighter  or  her/his  family  member  or  by  the  family  of martyr (post-independence) or a local Padma awardee, and in case no such citizen is available, by the eldest member of the
- i. local Gram Panchayat.
- ii. Provision  for  people  to  participate  by  donating  construction material, benches and by ShramDaan.
- If  village  community  so  desires,  beautification  works  on  the Sarovar site may mobilize necessary donations through crowd
- iii. sourcing and CSR contributions.
- iv. Provision has been made that on the occasion of Independence  Day/  Republic  Day,  Tricolour  to  be  hoisted  at each AmritSarovar site, by the freedom fighter or his/her family member or by the family member of martyr or a local Padma

- Awardee.  On  AmritSarovar  sites,  National  events  are  also being celebrated.
- v. Possible users of such water structure, including for irrigation, fishery or water chestnut cultivation, should be identified and creation of their group are encouraged.

As per the guidelines of Mission AmritSarovar, effective maintenance and sustainability of AmritSarovars requires a formation and clear mapping of users' groups associated with each sarovar largely drawn from members of SHGs. Proper identification and coordination of these user groups are essential for the optimal use  and  upkeep  of  the  sarovars.  The  user  group  will  also  be responsible for the ongoing use and maintenance of the AmritSarovar including the plantation activities. The removal of silt from  the  catchment  area  should  be  done  by  the  users'  groups voluntarily after every monsoon season.

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Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) &(e) of LokSabhaUnstarred Question No. 4001 dated 25.03.2025.

| State/Union Territory (UT)-wise details of AmritSarovar completed as on   | State/Union Territory (UT)-wise details of AmritSarovar completed as on   | State/Union Territory (UT)-wise details of AmritSarovar completed as on   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SI. No.                                                                   | State/UT                                                                  | Total Number of AmritSarovar Completed                                    |
| 1                                                                         | Andaman & Nicobar                                                         | 227                                                                       |
| 2                                                                         | Andhra Pradesh                                                            | 2154                                                                      |
| 3                                                                         | Arunachal Pradesh                                                         | 772                                                                       |
| 4                                                                         | Assam                                                                     | 2966                                                                      |
| 5                                                                         | Bihar                                                                     | 2613                                                                      |
| 6                                                                         | Chhattisgarh                                                              | 2902                                                                      |
| 7                                                                         | Goa                                                                       | 159                                                                       |
| 8                                                                         | Gujarat                                                                   | 2650                                                                      |
| 9                                                                         | Haryana                                                                   | 2088                                                                      |
| 10                                                                        | Himachal Pradesh                                                          | 1691                                                                      |
| 11                                                                        | Jammu And Kashmir                                                         | 1056                                                                      |
| 12                                                                        | Jharkhand                                                                 | 2048                                                                      |
| 13                                                                        | Karnataka                                                                 | 4056                                                                      |
| 14                                                                        | Kerala                                                                    | 866                                                                       |
| 15                                                                        | Ladakh                                                                    | 100                                                                       |
| 16                                                                        | Madhya Pradesh                                                            | 5839                                                                      |
| 17                                                                        | Maharashtra                                                               | 3055                                                                      |
| 18                                                                        | Manipur                                                                   | 1226                                                                      |
| 19                                                                        | Meghalaya                                                                 | 705                                                                       |
| 20                                                                        | Mizoram                                                                   | 1031                                                                      |
| 21                                                                        | Nagaland                                                                  | 256                                                                       |
| 22                                                                        | Odisha                                                                    | 2367                                                                      |
| 23                                                                        | Puducherry                                                                | 152                                                                       |
| 24                                                                        | Punjab                                                                    | 1450                                                                      |
| 25                                                                        | Rajasthan                                                                 | 3138                                                                      |
| 26                                                                        | Sikkim                                                                    | 199                                                                       |
| 27                                                                        | Tamil Nadu                                                                | 2487                                                                      |
| 28                                                                        | Telangana                                                                 | 1872                                                                      |
| 29                                                                        | The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman And Diu                              | 58                                                                        |
| 30                                                                        | Tripura                                                                   | 682                                                                       |
| 31                                                                        | Uttarakhand                                                               | 1322                                                                      |
| 32                                                                        | Uttar Pradesh                                                             | 16630                                                                     |
| 33                                                                        | West Bengal                                                               | 25                                                                        |
|                                                                           | Total                                                                     | 68,842                                                                    |

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