Lok Sabha Question No. 472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Groundwater Resources in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Robert Bruce C

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 472

ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025

## GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN TAMIL NADU

## 472. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  groundwater  resources  in  Tirunelveli  district  of Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

Water  being  a  state  subject  and  the  responsibility  of  ground  water  management,  including  taking initiatives for improvement of ground water resources, lies primarily with the state governments. The Central Government  complements  the  efforts  of  the  States  by  providing  technical  support  and  financial  assistance through its  various  projects  and  schemes.  However,  the  Central  Government   has  taken  several  steps  in  the direction of sustainable management of ground water resources of the country, including in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu and some of the important ones are mentioned 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 2024 is underway across the country. 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. In the past 3 years, construction of  total  16,309  water  conservation  structures  has  been  completed/ongoing  under  JSA  in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu.
- ii. National  Aquifer  Mapping  Studies  have  been  carried  out  for  the  entire  mappable  area  of  the country including Tamil Nadu. The total mappable area of Tirunelveli district has been covered under  National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  Programme  (NAQUIM).  The  District-wise groundwater management plans, containing recommendations for both demand and supply side interventions have been prepared and shared with State and District Authorities for implementation.

- iii. The  Dynamic  Ground  Water  Resources  of  the  country  are  being  annually  assessed  jointly  by Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  and  respective  State  Governments.  As  per  the  latest assessment in the year 2024, the Stage of Ground Water Extraction, which is a measure of Annual Ground  Water  Extraction  for  all  uses  (irrigation,  industrial  and  domestic  uses)  over  Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource is 43% for Tirunelveli district, indicating that the District is under 'Safe' category.
- iv. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB with States/UTs providing a broad outline of the project and expected investments. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures in  the  country  to  harness  185  Billion  Cubic  Metre  (BCM)  of  water.  The  Master  plan  has  been shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions .A total of 5,207 nos. of Rain water harvesting and Artificial  recharge  structures  have  been  recommended  for  the  Tirunelveli  District  in  Tamil Nadu.
- 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, including Tamil Nadu. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country with 70 in Tirunelveli District in Tamil Nadu.
- vi. A total  of  31  nos.  Digital  Water  Level  Recorders  (DWLRs)  have  been  installed  in  Tirunelveli district to monitor the ground water level fluctuation and 2 nos. DWLRs with quality monitoring features have been installed. The data of said DWLRs are being shared with State Government for planning and management.
- vii. Central  Ground  Water  Board  organizes  various  Public  Interaction  Programs  (PIP),  Mass Awareness  Programs  (MAP),  Tier  II  and  Tier  -III  programmes  on  local  ground  water  issues, including  educating  the  public  about  the  impacts  of  water  contamination  and  promoting sustainable  practices  to  maintain  water  quality.  In  Tirunelveli  district,  two  PIPs  have  been organized so far.
- viii. Further, as per the information received from the Water Resources Department of Tamil Nadu, the State government has constructed 21 check dams and one artificial recharge structure each in Gadananadhi sub basin and Thamirabarani sub basin in Tirunelveli district.

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