Lok Sabha Question No. 210 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Efficiency of Groundwater use under Atal Bhujal Yojana
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Sunita Duggal

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *210

ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## EFFICIENCY OF GROUNDWATER USE UNDER ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA

## *210 SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any specific measures are being taken under Atal Bhujal Yojana to improve the efficiency of groundwater use in agriculture in Sirsa Parliamentary Constituency and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any steps have been taken to improve and/or report prepared for examining the deteriorated ground water quality due to contamination of Ghaggar river in the Sirsa Parliamentary Constituency;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  any  special  financial  help  is  also  provided  to  Gram  Panchayats  of  Sirsa  Parliamentary Constituency under the above mentioned scheme through the State Governments; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the quantum of funds released thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *210 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023 REGARDING 'EFFICIENCY OF GROUNDWATER USE UNDER ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA'.

(a) Atal Bhujal Yojana is being taken up in selected Gram Panchayats (GPs) of Rania and Ellanabad Blocks  of  Sirsa  district  and  Tohana  Block  of  Fatehabad  district,  which  fall  in  Sirsa  Parliamentary Constituency.

The  scheme  focuses  on  community  led  sustainable  management  of  ground  water.  Through sustained  information,  education,  communication  (IEC)  and  awareness  activities,  it  targets  the behaviour of the community to orient it towards sustainable management of ground water, including improving  water  use  efficiency  through  various  activities.   Measures  taken  to  increase  efficiency  of groundwater use in agriculture include micro-irrigation, crop diversification, use of pipelines etc.

In the above mentioned three Blocks, 974.10 hectares of land has been brought under micro irrigation; 2,385.94 ha agricultural farm land has been brought under low water consuming crops; 463.87 ha area has been brought under Direct Seeding of Rice and 945 ha. of land is covered through an under ground pipeline system in the selected GPs.

(b) & (c) No such report highlighting the deterioration of ground water quality due to contamination of Ghaggar river is available. However, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data of the country, including Sirsa Parliamentary Constituency, on a regional scale as part of its ground  water  quality  monitoring  program  and  various  scientific  studies.  These  studies  indicate  the occurrence of contaminants such as fluoride, arsenic, nitrate and uranium beyond permissible limits (as per BIS) for human consumption in isolated pockets in Sirsa Parliamentary Constituency.

Water  being  a  State  subject,  initiatives  for  water  management,  including  its  quality,  are primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  States.  However,  various  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Central Government  for facilitating  ground  water  quality  improvement/  remediation  of  contamination  in  the country, including Haryana, as given below:

- i. Data on ground water quality available with CGWB are made available in public domain through reports as well as through the web site (http://www.cgwb.gov.in) for use by various stakeholders.  The  data  is  also  shared  with  concerned  State  Governments  for  taking necessary remedial measures.
- ii. CGWB constructs  wells  for  exploration  of  ground  water.  Successful  contamination-free wells are handed over to the State Governments for gainful utilization.
- iii. Under the National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM) of CGWB, special attention is given to the  aspect  of  ground  water  quality,  including  contamination  by  toxic  substances such as arsenic in ground water.
- iv. Awareness generation programs/workshops on various aspects of ground water, including preventing  ground  water  pollution  and  safe  use  of  contaminated  water,  are  conducted  by CGWB periodically.

(d)  &  (e) Under  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana,  funds  are  released  to  the  States  as  grant-in-aid  under  two components  -  (i)  Institutional  Strengthening  and  Capacity  Building  (IS&CB)  under  which  various equipment such as Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs), water level sounders, rain gauges, water flow meters, etc. are provided to each GP to increase the monitoring of ground water data. In addition, technical help is provided to GPs with an aim to make the communities aware about ground water data and  prepare  water  budget  and  water  security  plans  for  the  GP.  (ii)  Under  the  incentive  component, States  are  also  incentivized  monetarily  which  can  be  utilized  in  any  activity  leading  to  sustainable ground  water  management  in  the  GPs.  Funds  are  not  released  directly  to  GPs.  However,  State  of Haryana has been released Rs. 241.54 crore under the scheme as on 12.07.2023 which includes Rs. 61.25 crore under the IS&CB component and Rs. 180.29 crore under the incentive component.

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