Lok Sabha Question No. 1929 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Atal Bhujal Yojana in Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sushil Kumar Rinku

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1929

ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA IN PUNJAB

## 1929. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR RINKU

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the features of the Atal Bhujal Yojana;

(b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under this yojana in Punjab during the last three years and the current year;

(c) the details of the target fixed under this yojana along with the achievements made so far in Punjab;

(d) whether any specific measures are being taken under Atal Bhujal Yojana to improve the efficiency of ground water use in agriculture and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any steps have been taken to improve and/or report prepared for examining the deteriorated ground water quality across the country, including Punjab; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## )

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU

(a) Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  is  a  unique  scheme  which  marks a  paradigm  shift  from  groundwater  development  to groundwater  management.  Salient  features  of  the  scheme  include  community  based  monitoring  and  sharing  of groundwater  data,  planning,  capacity  building  &  focused  Information,  Education  &  Communication  (IEC) activities.  This  is  the  first  scheme  to  focus  on  demand  side  interventions  such  as  micro-irrigation,  crop diversification, use of pipelines etc. for conservation of groundwater. Gram Panchayat (GP) wise Water Security Plans (WSPs) having details about water budget and proposed demand side interventions such as micro-irrigation, crop diversification, use of pipelines etc, and supply side interventions such as check dams, farm ponds, recharge shafts and other artificial recharge / water conservation structures are prepared and executed through convergence of ongoing schemes.

(b) & (c) Atal Bhujal Yojana is not being implemented in Punjab.

(d) The  scheme  focuses  on  community  led  sustainable  management  of  ground  water.  Through  sustained information, education, communication (IEC) and awareness activities, it targets the behaviour of the community to  orient  it  towards  sustainable management of ground water, including improving water use efficiency through various activities.  Measures taken to increase efficiency of  groundwater use in agriculture include incentivizing water  efficient  agricultural  practices  like  micro-irrigation,  crop  diversification  to  lesser  water  intensive  crops, shifting over to Directly Seeded Rice (DSR), use of pipelines etc. through convergenc.

(e) & (f) Water being a State Subject, initiatives on its quality is primarily States' responsibility. However, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under this Ministry generates ground water quality data on a regional scale, including  State  of  Punjab,  during  various  scientific  studies  and  periodical  ground  water  quality  monitoring throughout the country. The various reports on ground water quality in the country, including the State of Punjab are hosted on CGWB website for further use by concerned agencies.

Apart from this, some of the important steps have been taken by the Central Government for facilitating ground water quality improvement in the country are given below:

1. Data on ground water quality available with CGWB are being shared with concerned State Governments for taking necessary remedial measures.
2. Under  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping  Programme  (NAQUIM)  being  conducted  by  the  Ministry,  special attention is being given to the aspect of ground water quality including contamination by toxic substances such  as  Arsenic  in  ground  water.  CGWB  has  successfully  demonstrated  the  construction  of  arsenic  safe wells in several arsenic affected areas and is actively sharing the know-how of such technology with state governments.
3. Awareness generation programs/ workshop on various aspects of ground water including preventing ground water pollution and safe use of contaminated water are being conducted periodically.
4. The  measures  taken  for  arresting  the  decline  of  water  table  like  artificial  recharge  to  ground  water, conservation/rejuvenation of water bodies etc. effectively addresses the problem of contamination as well. In this direction, CGWB has prepared Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 and shared 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. In Punjab, Master plan envisages about 11 Lakh Rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures to harness about 1200 Million Cubic Meter (MCM) of rain-water.
5. Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019, a time bound campaign with a mission mode  approach  intended  to  improve  water  availability  including  ground  water  conditions  in  the  water stressed blocks of 256 districts in India (including 20 districts in Punjab). JSA is continuing in 2023-24 also.
6. Hon'ble Prime Minister has launched Amrit Sarovar Mission on 24 th April 2022. The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
7. Government of India is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan Mission  (JJM)  -  Har  Ghar  Jal,  since  August,  2019,  in partnership with States, to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household by 2024. Under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
8. In  addition  and  to  complement  the  above  efforts  of  the  Government  of  India,  The  state  government  of Punjab too has taken various steps for improvement of ground water availability and quality like passing of Punjab Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act, 2020 and constitution of The Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority; passing of The Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Ordinance, 2008;  Diversification  from  Paddy  to  Maize  under  National  Adaptation  for  climate  change  for  2019-20; Construction of low dams to provide irrigation facilities under Bharat Nirman Program which facilitate in augmenting  the  Ground  Water  Resources  of  the  State  &  in  arresting  the  declining  ground  water  table; Introduction of 'Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao' Scheme to check depletion of underground water by offering monetary benefits to the farmers for every unit of power they save.