Lok Sabha Question No. 419 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Decline in Groundwater Level in Nagpur
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Shyamkumar Daulat Barve

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *419

ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025

## DECLINE IN GROUNDWATER LEVEL IN NAGPUR

†*419.    SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the groundwater level has declined to the level of 800 to 850 feet and a warning is being issued for its decline upto 1200 feet in Katol area of Nagpur and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the immediate and long-term measures taken by the Government to stabilise the groundwater level;
- (c) whether the water storage capacity of major dams in Nagpur and Amravati remained much below the average during 2023 and 2024 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken to recharge and repair the said dams?

## 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. *419  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  21.08.2025  IN  LOK  SABHA  REGARDING  'DECLINE  IN GROUNDWATER LEVEL IN NAGPUR'

(a) & (b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater levels throughout the country four times in every year, including Katol Block of Nagpur District of Maharashta. As per the measurement conducted during post monsoon (November), 2024 for Katol Block of Nagpur, around 87.5% of the monitored wells had ground water levels in the range 0-10 mbgl (meters below ground level).

Further, in order to assess the long-term fluctuation in ground water levels, the water level data for November 2024, has been compared with the decadal mean data, i.e. the mean of ground water levels of November months from 2014 to 2023.  Such analysis indicates that around 57.1% of monitored wells in Katol Block have registered rise in ground water levels during November 2024, on comparison with the decadal mean.

Water being a State subject, sustainable development and management of groundwater resources is primarily the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments.  However,  the  Central  Government  facilitates  the  efforts  of  the  State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects. In this direction, the important steps taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries for conservation and sustainable development of ground water resources in the country, including Nagpur, Maharashtra, are given below:-

- i. The Government is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country since 2019 which is a mission mode and time bound programme for harvesting the rainfall and taking up water conservation activities. Currently, JSA 2025 is being implemented in the country, including Nagpur, Maharashtra, with special focus  on  over-exploited  and  critical  areas.  JSA  is  an  umbrella  campaign  under  which  various  ground water recharge and conservation related works are being taken up in convergence with various central and state schemes. As per JSA dashboard, in the past 4 years, around 4,635 water harvesting and recharge works have been completed through coordination in Nagpur district. To further strengthen the momentum of  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan,  a  community  driven  campaign  of  Jal  Sanchay  Jan  Bhagidari  (JSJB)  has  been launched which seeks to develop cost-effective, local solutions tailored to specific water challenges across different regions.
- ii. Further, CGWB  has completed the National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Project covering approximately 25 lakh square kms. of mappable area across the country, including 9892 sq.km area of Nagpur  District,  Maharashtra.  Further,  District-wise  Aquifer  maps  and  management  plans  have  been prepared and shared with the respective State agencies for taking up further suitable interventions.
- iii. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB and shared with States/UTs providing a broad outline for construction of around 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country with estimated cost to harness about 185 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) of water. The Master plan recommends about 3.51 lakh nos. of rainwater harvesting and recharge structures for Nagpur District of Maharashta.

- iv. The Government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana in 80 water stressed districts of 7 states, including Maharashtra, which has community led sustainable management of ground water resources and demand management as its core theme.
- v. Mission  Amrit  Sarovar  was  launched  by  the  Government  of  India,  which  aimed  at  developing  and rejuvenating at least 75 water bodies in each district of the country. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country, with 78 in Nagpur district.
- vi. M/o Jal Shakti promotes conjunctive use of surface and groundwater to reduce groundwater dependency. Under PMKSY-AIBP, surface water-based Major and Medium irrigation projects are being implemented in  collaboration  with  States/UTs.  In  Maharashtra,  26  such  projects  have  been  taken  up.  Additionally, since  2018,  a  Special  Package  for  Maharashtra  has  been  devised  which  supports  83  Surface  Minor Irrigation  projects  and  8  Major/Medium  projects  in  drought-prone  areas  specifically  in  Vidarbha  and Marathwada.
- vii. Ministry of Jal Shakti has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 21 States/UTs including Maharashtra have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation.

(c) & (d) The primary responsibility for ensuring the safety, operation, maintenance and repair of dams lies with the respective  dam  owners,  which  predominantly  use  to  be  State  Governments.  As  per  the  information  received,  the actual  water  storage  capacities  of  major  dams  located  in  the  Nagpur  and  Amravati  districts  of  Maharashtra,  as recorded  at  the  end  of  the  monsoon  season  (i.e.  end  of  October)  for  the  years  2023  and  2024,  are  provided  in Annexure. According to the project authorities, the storage capacities for both years have been assessed as normal.

Further, to support dam safety and performance enhancement, the Government of India is implementing the externally  funded  Dam  Rehabilitation  and  Improvement  Project  (DRIP)  Phase  II  and  III.  This  initiative  covers selected  dams  across  19  States,  including  Maharashtra.  Under  the  Scheme,  Maharashtra  has  been  allocated rehabilitation works for 167 dams.

Nand  and  Wadgaon  dams  (part  of  Lower  Venna  project)  located  in  Nagpur  district  and  Sapan  and  Upper Wardha dams located in Amravati district have been included for comprehensive rehabilitation under DRIP.

***

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) & (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *419 TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  21.08.2025  REGARDING  'DECLINE  IN GROUNDWATER LEVEL IN NAGPUR'

| Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2023   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sr. No                                                                     | Project                                                                    | District                                                                   | River                                                                      | Project Designed Storage Capacity (MCM)                                    | Storage capacity at the end of Oct. 2023 (MCM)                             | Percentage (6/5)X100                                                       |                                                                            |
| 1                                                                          | 2                                                                          | 3                                                                          | 4                                                                          | 5                                                                          | 6                                                                          | 8                                                                          |                                                                            |
| 1                                                                          | Totladoh                                                                   | Nagpur                                                                     | Pench                                                                      | 1016.88                                                                    | 938.36                                                                     | 92.28                                                                      |                                                                            |
| 2                                                                          | Kamthi Khairi                                                              | Nagpur                                                                     | Pench                                                                      | 141.98                                                                     | 54.57                                                                      | 38.43                                                                      |                                                                            |
| 3                                                                          | Khidsi                                                                     | Nagpur                                                                     | Sur                                                                        | 103.00                                                                     | 73.84                                                                      | 71.69                                                                      |                                                                            |
| 4                                                                          | Nand (Lower Venna)                                                         | Nagpur                                                                     | Nand                                                                       | 53.18                                                                      | 45.91                                                                      | 86.33                                                                      |                                                                            |
| 5                                                                          | Wadgaon (Lower Venna)                                                      | Nagpur                                                                     | Venna                                                                      | 134.89                                                                     | 129.93                                                                     | 96.32                                                                      |                                                                            |
|                                                                            | Total                                                                      | Nagpur                                                                     |                                                                            | 1449.93                                                                    | 1242.61                                                                    | 85.70                                                                      |                                                                            |
| Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Nagpur District as on 31.10.2024   |
| 1                                                                          | Totladoh                                                                   | Nagpur                                                                     | Pench                                                                      | 1016.88                                                                    | 1016.88                                                                    | 100.00                                                                     |                                                                            |
| 2                                                                          | Kamthi Khairi                                                              | Nagpur                                                                     | Pench                                                                      | 141.98                                                                     | 77.81                                                                      | 54.80                                                                      |                                                                            |
| 3                                                                          | Khidsi                                                                     | Nagpur                                                                     | Sur                                                                        | 103.00                                                                     | 60.23                                                                      | 58.48                                                                      |                                                                            |
| 4                                                                          | Nand (Lower Venna)                                                         | Nagpur                                                                     | Nand                                                                       | 53.18                                                                      | 53.18                                                                      | 100.00                                                                     |                                                                            |
| 5                                                                          | Wadgaon (Lower Venna)                                                      | Nagpur                                                                     | Venna                                                                      | 134.89                                                                     | 133.57                                                                     | 99.02                                                                      |                                                                            |
|                                                                            | Total                                                                      | Nagpur                                                                     |                                                                            | 1449.93                                                                    | 1341.67                                                                    | 92.53                                                                      |                                                                            |
| Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2023 |
| 1                                                                          | Upper Wardha                                                               | AmravatiPench                                                              | AmravatiPench                                                              | 564.05                                                                     | 549.33                                                                     | 97.39                                                                      |                                                                            |
| 2                                                                          | Sapan                                                                      | AmravatiMorapatha38.6                                                      | AmravatiMorapatha38.6                                                      | AmravatiMorapatha38.6                                                      | 36.39                                                                      | 94.28                                                                      |                                                                            |
| Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 | Water Storage Capacity of Major Dams in Amravati District as on 31.10.2024 |
| 1                                                                          | Upper Wardha                                                               | AmravatiPench                                                              | AmravatiPench                                                              | 564.05                                                                     | 564.05                                                                     | 100.00                                                                     |                                                                            |
| 2                                                                          | Sapan                                                                      | AmravatiMorapatha38.6                                                      | AmravatiMorapatha38.6                                                      | AmravatiMorapatha38.6                                                      | 38.6                                                                       | 100.00                                                                     |                                                                            |

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