Lok Sabha Question No. 287 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Construction of Stop Dams on Vindhyachal Hills
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *287

ANSWERED ON 20.03.2025

## CONSTRUCTION OF STOP DAMS ON VINDHYACHAL HILLS

| †*287.                                                                                                       | SHRIDARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                         | Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:                                                         |
| (a) whether the Government has any plan to construct small stop dams on the Vindhyachal hills in Hoshangabad | (a) whether the Government has any plan to construct small stop dams on the Vindhyachal hills in Hoshangabad |
| Lok Sabha Constituency;                                                                                      | Lok Sabha Constituency;                                                                                      |
| (b) if so, the details thereof; and                                                                          | (b) if so, the details thereof; and                                                                          |
| (c) the specific recommendations made by the experts for water conservation?                                 | (c) the specific recommendations made by the experts for water conservation?                                 |
| ANSWER                                                                                                       | ANSWER                                                                                                       |
| THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PAATIL)                                                                 | THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI (SHRI C R PAATIL)                                                                 |
|                                                                                                              | (a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                  |

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *287 TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  20.03.2025  IN  LOK  SABHA  REGARDING  'CONSTRUCTION  OF  STOP DAMS ON VINDHYACHAL HILLS'

(a)  & (b) As informed by the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, two projects are being implemented in Hoshangabad  district  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  -  Watershed  Development  2.0.  Under these projects, water conservation works such as contour trench, gabion, recharge shaft, farm pond, pond, tree plantation and Amrit Sarovar have been taken up in Gram Panchayat Dandiwada, Silwani, Chartekra, Kalaakhar and Bhargada.

(c) Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  aspects  related  to  water  resources  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.

The  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  launched  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and Management Programme (NAQUIM) under the Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) scheme, covering  the  entire  country,  including  the  Hoshangabad  Lok  Sabha  constituency.  The  program  has  provided block-wise  aquifer  maps,  management  plans,  and  detailed  reports  to  the  State  Government  and  District Administration.  Key  recommendations  under  NAQUIM  for  water  conservation  include  the  construction  of recharge structures such as percolation tanks, recharge shafts, check dams, nala bunds, and concrete plugs. The plan  also  suggests  increasing  cropping  intensity  using  available  groundwater  resources  and  shifting  irrigation practices to micro-irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler systems for rabi crops. Additionally, the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater-2020 proposes 929 percolation tanks, 7923 check dams, 8073 nala bunds/cement plugs, and 907 village ponds in the Hoshangabad constituency. This Master Plan, which includes cost estimates, has been shared with State Government agencies for planning and implementation.

Further,  the  yearly  campaign  "Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan  (JSA)"  was  launched  in  2019  to  promote  water conservation through community involvement, but it was paused in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, the "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain" (JSA: CTR) campaign was launched, with the theme 'Catch the Rain - Where it Falls, When it Falls,' and has become an annual event since. In 2024, the campaign expanded to all rural and urban  areas  across  India,  focusing  on  rainwater  harvesting,  groundwater  recharge,  and  the  rejuvenation  of traditional  water  bodies.  Over  1.7  crore  water  conservation  works  have  been  completed  from  2019  to  2024, including the creation of check dams, rooftop rainwater harvesting, and de-silting tanks. Additionally, 705 Jal Shakti Kendras were established, and 620 District Scientific Water Conservation Plans were created.

To further enhance community action, the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative was launched in September  2024.  This  initiative  focuses  on  constructing  low-cost  artificial  recharge  structures,  like  rooftop rainwater  harvesting  systems,  and  recharging  defunct  bore  wells.  It  promotes  innovative  financing  models involving  CSR  and  community  philanthropic  partnerships.  The  goal  is  to  conserve  water  through  collective efforts  and  build  1  million  artificial  recharge  structures  by  May  2025,  improving  groundwater  levels  and promoting sustainable water management.

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