Lok Sabha Question No. 902 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-07
Subject: Withdrawal of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 902

## ANSWERED ON 07.12.2023

## WITHDRAWAL OF GROUND WATER

## 902. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether it is a fact that electrification of ground water withdrawal corresponds to a rise in the use of tubewells and borewells that are capable of extracting water from greater depths;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  the  total  number  of  tubewells,  borewells,  dugwells,  Shallow  tube  wells,  State-wise  including  Saran district of Bihar;

(d)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  electricity  is  the  dominant  source  of  power  to  extract  water,  over  diesel, windmills, and solar pumps;

(e) the details of the share of various sources of power to extract water for agriculture, including electricity, diesel, windmills and solar pumps, Statewise; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to keep a check on excessive groundwater withdrawal for irrigation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) & (b) Electricity is one of the major and dominant sources for extracting ground water and electric pumps are believed to be more convenient for extracting ground water from greater depths.

(c) The  Minor  Irrigation  Census  Division  under  this  Ministry  conducts  the  census  of  minor  irrigation structures of the country on a periodic basis.

As  per  the  latest  available  (6 th )  Minor  Irrigation  (MI)  Census,  the  total  number  of  ground  water schemes/wells  in  India  is  2,19,32,799  (Dugwell  -  82,78,425;  Shallow  Tubewell  -  55,85,839;  Medium Tubewell - 43,18,275 & Deep Tubewell -  37,50,260). The State wise details are given in Annexure I .

Further, for the state of Bihar the total number of ground water schemes/wells are 6,91,231 (Dugwell -  15,926;  Shallow  Tubewell  -  1,83,878;  Medium  Tubewell  -  4,55,650  &  Deep  Tubewell  -   35,777).  In Saran  District,  the  total  number  of  ground  water  schemes/wells  are  29,  361  (Dug  well  -  7;  Shallow Tubewell - 5,802; Medium Tubewell - 12,012 & Deep Tubewell - 11,540).

(d) As per the 6 th MI Census, electricity, diesel, windmills, solar, manual/animal are the major sources of energy  used  for  drawing  ground  water.  The  total  number  wells  currently  being  used  to  draw  water  are 2,17,34,714 out of which 1,65,63,097 (76%) wells are powered by electrical pump to extract ground water.

(e) The  State  wise  details  of  the  share  of  various  sources  of  power  to  extract  water  for  agriculture, including electricity, diesel, windmills and solar pumps are given in Annexure II .

(f) Water being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources including irrigation activities are studied,  planned,  funded  and  executed  by  the  State  Governments.  The  Central  Government  provides technical  support  and  financial  assistance  through  its  various  centrally  sponsored  schemes.  Some  of  the important measures taken by the central government for reducing excessive use of ground water in irrigation are listed below:

National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, envisages evolving an agricultural system which economizes on water use and maximizes value from water, and bringing in maximum efficiency in use of water and avoiding wastages. The Policy has been forwarded to all States/UTs concerned Ministries/Departments of Central Government for adoption.

Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  Per  Drop  More  Crop  (PDMC) component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which is operational from 2015-16 in the Country. The PMKSY-PDMC mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through precision/micro irrigation. Besides promoting precision irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation System) & better on-farm water management practices (to optimize the use of available water resources), this component also supports micro level water storage or, water conservation/management activities to supplement Micro Irrigation.

Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  (MoJS)  has  launched  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana,  a  community  led  scheme  for participatory  ground  water  management  focussing  on  demand  side  management  of  ground  water.  The scheme has been launched with an outlay of Rs.6000 cr in 8213 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 7 states, viz. Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Under this scheme, inter alia, states are incentivized for adopting water efficient agricultural practices like switching over to drips/sprinklers, crop diversification to less water incentive crops, mulching etc.

MoJS has also  issued  advisories  to  States/UTs  to  review  their  free/subsidized  electricity  policy  to farmers, bring suitable water pricing policy and may work further towards crop rotation/diversification/other initiatives to reduce over-dependence on groundwater.

MoJS is promoting conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater and to reduce over-dependence on  groundwater,  surface  water  based  Major  and  Medium  irrigation  projects  have  been  taken  up  in  the country under PMKSY-AIBP scheme in collaboration with States/UTs.

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under MoJS under section 3(3) of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  for  the  purpose  of  regulation  and  control  of  ground  water development  and  management  in  the  country.  Abstraction  cum  use  of  Groundwater  in  the  country  is regulated  by  CGWA by  way  of  issuing  NOCs  as  per  the  provisions  of  its  Guidelines  dated  24.09.2020 which have pan India applicability.

Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) has been set up under MoJS to plan and execute nationwide program for promotion of efficient use of water in irrigation, domestic water supply, municipal and/or industrial uses in the country.

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 902 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.12.2023 REGARDING 'WITHDRAWAL OF GROUND WATER'.

State Wise Total number of Schemes/wells - Ground Water (as per 6 th MI Census)

| S. No   | States/UTs        | Total number of Schemes/wells - Ground Water   | Total number of Schemes/wells - Ground Water   | Total number of Schemes/wells - Ground Water   | Total number of Schemes/wells - Ground Water   | Total number of Schemes/wells - Ground Water   |
|---------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| S. No   | States/UTs        | Dugwell                                        | Shallow Tubewell                               | Medium Tubewell                                | Deep Tubewell                                  | Total                                          |
| 1       | Andaman & Nicobar | 2429                                           | 40                                             | 0                                              | 0                                              | 2469                                           |
| 2       | Andhra Pradesh    | 171301                                         | 198162                                         | 237713                                         | 525593                                         | 1132769                                        |
| 3       | Arunachal Pradesh | 25                                             | 18                                             | 2                                              | 5                                              | 50                                             |
| 4       | Assam             | 38                                             | 151095                                         | 369                                            | 674                                            | 152176                                         |
| 5       | Bihar             | 15926                                          | 183878                                         | 455650                                         | 35777                                          | 691231                                         |
| 6       | Chandigarh        | 0                                              | 0                                              | 0                                              | 30                                             | 30                                             |
| 7       | Chhatisgarh       | 31414                                          | 27875                                          | 156944                                         | 117354                                         | 333587                                         |
| 8       | Delhi             | 0                                              | 733                                            | 129                                            | 13                                             | 875                                            |
| 9       | Goa               | 3932                                           | 71                                             | 21                                             | 7                                              | 4031                                           |
| 10      | Gujarat           | 382286                                         | 303245                                         | 390256                                         | 279040                                         | 1354827                                        |
| 11      | Haryana           | 1005                                           | 20892                                          | 49495                                          | 148073                                         | 219465                                         |
| 12      | Himachal Pradesh  | 431                                            | 5255                                           | 3600                                           | 1405                                           | 10691                                          |
| 13      | Jammu& Kashmir    | 4725                                           | 4766                                           | 318                                            | 661                                            | 10470                                          |
| 14      | Jharkhand         | 160077                                         | 1611                                           | 1209                                           | 520                                            | 163417                                         |
| 15      | Karnataka         | 134603                                         | 115123                                         | 696702                                         | 330824                                         | 1277252                                        |
| 16      | Kerala            | 52135                                          | 3146                                           | 5301                                           | 1871                                           | 62453                                          |
| 17      | Madhya Pradesh    | 1336682                                        | 419460                                         | 243781                                         | 232720                                         | 2232643                                        |
| 18      | Maharashtra       | 2749088                                        | 131100                                         | 174194                                         | 179583                                         | 3233965                                        |
| 19      | Manipur           | 0                                              | 0                                              | 0                                              | 0                                              | 0                                              |
| 20      | Meghalaya         | 149                                            | 803                                            | 0                                              | 5                                              | 957                                            |
| 21      | Mizoram           | 34                                             | 4                                              | 23                                             | 0                                              | 61                                             |
| 22      | Nagaland          | 12                                             | 10                                             | 3                                              | 10                                             | 35                                             |
| 23      | Odisha            | 265554                                         | 42443                                          | 46550                                          | 61434                                          | 415981                                         |
| 24      | Puducherry        | 37                                             | 625                                            | 1828                                           | 1341                                           | 3831                                           |
| 25      | Punjab            | 0                                              | 181189                                         | 418938                                         | 573630                                         | 1173757                                        |
| 26      | Rajasthan         | 834841                                         | 21417                                          | 140380                                         | 478286                                         | 1474924                                        |
| 27      | Sikkim            | 0                                              | 0                                              | 0                                              | 0                                              | 0                                              |
| 28      | Tamil Nadu        | 1577198                                        | 89026                                          | 110660                                         | 293934                                         | 2070818                                        |
| 29      | Telengana         | 457784                                         | 76790                                          | 677156                                         | 367519                                         | 1579249                                        |
| 30      | Tripura           | 4                                              | 1009                                           | 1468                                           | 266                                            | 2747                                           |
| 31      | Uttarakhand       | 411                                            | 44838                                          | 5003                                           | 1739                                           | 51991                                          |
| 32      | Uttar Pradesh     | 85224                                          | 3333679                                        | 418316                                         | 106883                                         | 3944102                                        |
| 33      | West Bengal       | 11080                                          | 227536                                         | 82266                                          | 11063                                          | 331945                                         |
|         | Total             | 8278425                                        | 5585839                                        | 4318275                                        | 3750260                                        | 21932799                                       |

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 902 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.12.2023 REGARDING 'WITHDRAWAL OF GROUND WATER'.

State Wise various sources of power to extract ground water for agriculture, including electricity, diesel, windmills and solar pumps

| S. No.   | States/UTs        | Ground Water Schemes/wells   | Ground Water Schemes/wells   | Ground Water Schemes/wells   | Ground Water Schemes/wells   | Ground Water Schemes/wells   | Ground Water Schemes/wells   | Ground Water Schemes/wells   |
|----------|-------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| S. No.   | States/UTs        | Electric Pump                | Diesel Pump                  | Wind mills                   | Solar pumps                  | Manual/ Animal               | Others                       | Total                        |
| 1        | Andaman & Nicobar | 946                          | 61                           | 1                            | 0                            | 1406                         | 4                            | 2418                         |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh    | 995902                       | 68970                        | 202                          | 7567                         | 2954                         | 8234                         | 1083829                      |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh | 7                            | 30                           | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 37                           |
| 4        | Assam             | 71656                        | 78319                        | 6                            | 10                           | 75                           | 36                           | 150102                       |
| 5        | Bihar             | 116994                       | 530466                       | 1253                         | 584                          | 36074                        | 3606                         | 688977                       |
| 6        | Chandigarh        | 30                           | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 30                           |
| 7        | Chhatisgarh       | 323504                       | 2211                         | 125                          | 3893                         | 2888                         | 652                          | 333273                       |
| 8        | Delhi             | 872                          | 2                            | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 874                          |
| 9        | Goa               | 3339                         | 182                          | 2                            | 2                            | 454                          | 22                           | 4001                         |
| 10       | Gujarat           | 1307472                      | 1976                         | 40611                        | 12                           | 615                          | 486                          | 1351172                      |
| 11       | Haryana           | 206396                       | 11948                        | 70                           | 159                          | 3                            | 882                          | 219458                       |
| 12       | Himachal Pradesh  | 10124                        | 507                          | 5                            | 6                            | 19                           | 6                            | 10667                        |
| 13       | Jammu &Kashmir    | 10365                        | 93                           | 1                            | 1                            | 6                            | 3                            | 10469                        |
| 14       | Jharkhand         | 18009                        | 107847                       | 384                          | 786                          | 23633                        | 11861                        | 162520                       |
| 15       | Karnataka         | 1242691                      | 3891                         | 587                          | 597                          | 25224                        | 2079                         | 1275069                      |
| 16       | Kerala            | 58815                        | 1668                         | 37                           | 17                           | 1438                         | 405                          | 62380                        |
| 17       | Madhya Pradesh    | 2133834                      | 65192                        | 369                          | 1566                         | 4875                         | 13128                        | 2218964                      |
| 18       | Maharashtra       | 3141908                      | 46170                        | 4435                         | 1580                         | 5707                         | 30382                        | 3230182                      |
| 19       | Meghalaya         | 28                           | 774                          | 1                            | 0                            | 149                          | 2                            | 954                          |
| 20       | Mizoram           | 25                           | 1                            | 0                            | 1                            | 19                           | 0                            | 46                           |
| 21       | Nagaland          | 3                            | 16                           | 0                            | 10                           | 2                            | 2                            | 33                           |
| 22       | Odisha            | 209852                       | 128012                       | 603                          | 540                          | 53834                        | 5429                         | 398270                       |
| 23       | Puducherry        | 3700                         | 2                            | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 2                            | 3704                         |
| 24       | Punjab            | 1135980                      | 37210                        | 184                          | 175                          | 6                            | 191                          | 1173746                      |
| 25       | Rajasthan         | 1154521                      | 294012                       | 763                          | 2048                         | 7899                         | 2196                         | 1461439                      |
| 26       | Tamil Nadu        | 1906132                      | 78409                        | 2032                         | 695                          | 18192                        | 12331                        | 2017791                      |
| 27       | Telengana         | 1550929                      | 6127                         | 494                          | 190                          | 873                          | 602                          | 1559215                      |
| 28       | Tripura           | 2539                         | 32                           | 0                            | 0                            | 0                            | 6                            | 2577                         |
| 29       | Uttarakhand       | 25334                        | 26325                        | 8                            | 3                            | 2                            | 99                           | 51771                        |
| 30       | Uttar pradesh     | 775613                       | 3156427                      | 389                          | 2166                         | 272                          | 538                          | 3935405                      |
| 31       | West Bengal       | 155577                       | 165047                       | 512                          |                              | 932                          |                              | 325341                       |
|          | Total 16563097    |                              | 4811927                      | 53074                        | 1112 23720                   | 187551                       | 2161 95345                   | 21734714                     |

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