Lok Sabha Question No. 908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Water Scarcity in Rural and Drought-prone Regions
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 908

ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## WATER SCARCITY IN RURAL AND DROUGHT-PRONE REGIONS

908.   SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the growing water scarcity in various States especially in rural and drought-prone regions and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to recharge groundwater levels and ensure sustainable use of water resources;

(c)  whether  there  is  any  plan  to  promote  rainwater  harvesting  and  watershed  management  in  urban  and rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  the  details  of  funds  allocated  and  utilized  in  Gujarat  under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  and  Atal  Bhujal Yojana during the last two years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependent upon hydrometeorological and geological factors. Due to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation in a region, the water availability may result in water stress conditions.

The Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country including rural and drought-prone regions are assessed every year from 2022 jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. These  annual  assessments  of  groundwater  resources  are  carried  out  to  analyze  trends  in  groundwater recharge and extraction. As per the report of 'National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of  India,  2024',  Out  of  the  total  6746  assessment  units  (Blocks/Taluks/Mandals)  in  the  country, 751(11.13%) assessment units have been categorized as 'Over exploited';  206 (3.05 %) assessment units as 'Critical';  711 (10.54 %) as 'Semi-critical'' units;  127 (1.88 %) assessment units as 'saline and 4951 (73.39 %) units are categorized as 'safe' blocks.'.

'Water'  being  a  state  subject,  steps  for  augmentation,  conservation  and  efficient  management  of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes.

The Government of India has taken various schemes and programmes like Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojna (PMKSY) - Accelerated Irrigation  Benefit  Programme  (AIBP),  Repair,  Renovation  &  Restoration  (RRR)  of  Water  Bodies, Interlinking of Rivers (ILR), National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM)  Project, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT  2.0)  etc.  for  water  conservation,  sustainable  water management and improving the groundwater level across the country.

(d) An amount of Rs.368.92 crore has been released to the State of Gujarat under the Atal Bhujal Yojana during the financial  years 2023-24 and 2024-25, out of which Rs. 367.86 crore has been utilized by the State.

The funds allocated and utilized in Gujarat under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) during last two years are as under:

(Amount in Rs crore)

| Year    | Central         | Central    | Central     | Central         | Central              |
|---------|-----------------|------------|-------------|-----------------|----------------------|
|         | Opening Balance | Allocation | Funds Drawn | Available Funds | Reported utilization |
| 2023-24 | 1088.66         | 2982.85    | 2237.14     | 3325.80         | 2377.83              |
| 2024-25 | 947.97          | 2420.14    | 59.00       | 1006.97         | 881.84               |

Source: JJM-IMIS                                                                  As on 21.07.2025

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