Lok Sabha Question No. 480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-28
Subject: Water Conservation and Water Harvesting in Jharkhand and Rajasthan
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 480

ANSWERED ON 28.11.2024

## WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER HARVESTING IN JHARKHAND AND RAJASTHAN

†480. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  any  special  scheme  or  campaign  for  water conservation and water harvesting in Jharkhand and Rajasthan;

- (b) if so, the salient features thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government is  aware  of  depleting  water  table  causing  water  crisis  in  Jharkhand  and Rajasthan; and

(d) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government for availability of water supply in the drought prone and water crisis areas of Jharkhand and Rajasthan?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  &  (b) Water  is  a  State  subject  and  the  efforts  to  promote  water  conservation  and  rain  water harvesting  in  the  country  falls  under  the  mandate  of  the  State  Government.  Central  Government supplements the efforts of the States/UTs through technical and financial support. Water conservation through rainwater harvesting is one of the foremost priorities of the Central Government. Major steps taken by the Government for water conservation and rainwater harvesting in the country are as follows:

- i. Government  of  India  has  been  implementing  a  scheme  namely  Mahatma  Gandhi  National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)  which inter-alia includes water conservation and water harvesting structures.
- ii. Financial  assistance  is  given  to  various  States  under  15th  Finance  Commission  tied  grants which can be inter-alia utilized for rainwater harvesting.
- iii. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019 on an annual basis. In the current year, Ministry of Jal Shakti is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) 2024, 5th in the series of JSAs, in all the districts (rural as well as urban) of the country. JSA: CTR is a convergence of various Central Government schemes and funds like MGNREGS, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Per  Drop  More  Crop,  Repair,  Renovation  and  Restoration  Components  under  the  Pradhan

SHRI LUMBA RAM

Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning  Authority  (CAMPA),  Finance  Commission  grants,  State  Government  schemes, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds etc. One of the major interventions undertaken under  the  campaign  includes  construction  and  repair  of  rainwater  harvesting  structures including rooftop and water harvesting structures.

- iv. Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  has  launched Jal  Sanchay  Jan  Bhagidari  (JSJB)  initiative  to  further strengthen  the  momentum  of  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan:  Catch  the  Rain.  The  initiative  aims  to enhance  water  recharge  through  rainwater  harvesting/aquifer  recharge/borewell  recharge/ recharge shafts etc. with resource support from Government & non-Government resources like CSR funds, industrial houses, civic bodies, water sector enthusiasts etc. collectively working towards ensuring a water secure future.
- v. Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT)  2.0  has  provisions  for harvesting the rainwater through storm water drains into water body (which is not receiving sewage/effluent). Through preparation of 'Aquifer Management Plan' cities target to strategize groundwater  recharge  augmentation  by  developing  a  roadmap  for  improving  rain  water harvesting within city limits. Through IEC campaign, awareness is created about practices for water conservation like rainwater harvesting.
- vi. Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  has  formulated  guidelines  for  the  States  to  adopt measures suitable to local conditions, such as Unified Building Bye Laws (UBBL) of Delhi, 2016, Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 and Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI)  Guidelines,  2014  with adequate focus on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.
- vii. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater-  2020  in  consultation  with  States/UTs  which  is  a  macro  level  plan  indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including estimated cost. The Master Plan has provisions for construction of about 1.42 crore Rain water harvesting and artificial  recharge  structures  in  the  country  to  harness  185  Billion  Cubic  Metre  (BCM)  of monsoon rainfall.
- viii. National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR,  which  inter-alia  advocates  rainwater  harvesting  and  conservation  of  water  and  also highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.
- ix. Department  of  Land  Resources(DoLR)  implements  Watershed  Development  Component  of Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchai  Yojana(WDC-PMKSY)  for  the  development  of  rainfed  and degraded  lands in the country. The  activities undertaken, inter-alia, include rainwater harvesting.
- x. The activity of installing rainwater harvesting structures at the Gram Panchayat level has been included in the Panchayat Development Plan (PDP) for Panchayats to opt for the same as per their  needs  for  execution  from  XV  Finance  Commission  (FC)  funds  or  any  other  available funds with them.

(c) CGWB monitors groundwater levels throughout the country including the states of Jharkhand and Rajasthan,  four  times  in  every  year  during  the  months  of  March/April/May,  August,  November  and January.

In  order  to  assess  the  long  term  fluctuation  in  ground  water  level  in  the  State  of  Jharkhand  and Rajasthan, the water level data collected by CGWB in Jharkhand and Rajasthan during November 2023 has been compared with the decadal mean of November (2013-2022). Decadal Water Level Fluctuation with Mean (Post-Monsoon 2013 to 2022) and Post-monsoon 2023 in respect of Jharkhand and Rajasthan is annexed. Analysis of water level data in respect of Jharkhand indicates that about 45.65% of the wells monitored have registered rise in ground water levels, mostly in the range of 0.0 - 2.0 metre. Further, fall  in  groundwater  levels  have  also  been  observed  in  54.35%  analysed  wells  which  is  mostly  in  the range of 0.0-2.0 metre.

Analysis  of  water  level  data  in  respect  of  Rajasthan  indicates  that  about  33.60%  of  the  wells monitored have registered rise in ground water levels, mostly in the range of 0.0-2.0 metre. Further, fall in groundwater levels have also been observed in 66.40% analysed wells which is mostly in the range of 0.0-2.0 metre.

(d) 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.  Government of  India provides technical and financial support. However, the the major steps are taken by the government for the availability of water supply in the drought prone and water crisis areas of Jharkhand and Rajasthan are as follows:

- i. Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  completed  the  National  Aquifer  Mapping (NAQUIM) Project in the entire mappable area of about 25 Lakh sq. km including the States of Jharkhand and Rajasthan. The Aquifer maps and management plans have been prepared and shared with the respective State agencies for implementation. The management plans include various water conservation measures through recharge structures.
- ii. CGWB  has  prepared  a  Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to  Groundwater-  2020  in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including estimated cost. 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  monsoon  rainfall  including  5.9  lakh structures in Jharkhand & 7.7 lakh structures in Rajasthan.

- iii. For  ensuring  tap  water  supply  in  drought-prone  &  water-scarce  area/  areas  with  inadequate rainfall  or  dependable  ground  water  sources,  including  those  in  the  State  of  Jharkhand  and Rajasthan,  provisions  have  been  made  under  JJM  for  planning  and  implementation  of  bulk water transfer from long distances and regional water supply schemes. In addition, provisions have been made for source recharging, viz. dedicated bore well recharge structures, rain water recharge, rejuvenation of existing water bodies, etc., in convergence with other schemes such as MGNREGS,  Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP),15th Finance Commission tied grants to RLBs/ PRIs, State schemes, CSR funds, etc.

In order to enhance recharge of aquifers, especially in arid and semi-arid areas, State Governments have  been  urged  to  strengthen/  extend  existing  canal  networks  and/  or  build  canals  so  as  to  transfer surplus  flood  waters  from  dams/  reservoirs  to  ponds/  lakes  and  other  water  bodies  and  also  recharge groundwater during monsoon season.  Further, for villages  in  water-scarce  areas,  in  order  to  save  the precious  fresh  water,  States  are  encouraged  to  plan  new  water  supply  scheme  with  dual  piped  water supply system, i.e. supply of fresh water in one and treated grey/ waste water in another pipe for nonpotable/ gardening/ toilet flushing use. Moreover, the households in these areas are encouraged to use the faucet aerators that save a significant amount of water, in multiple taps which can be used inside their house.

Further, water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments.

***

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 480 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.11.2024 REGARDING 'WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER HARVESTING IN JHARKHAND AND RAJASTHAN'.

| State-wise Decadal Water Level Fluctuation with Mean (Post-Monsoon 2013 to 2022) and Post-Monsoon 2023   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

*****