Lok Sabha Question No. 1814 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Ground Water Availability  in North-East Region
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Shafi Parambil, Shri Pradyut Bordoloi, Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1814

ANSWERED ON 01.08.2024

## GROUND WATER AVAILABILITY IN NORTH-EAST REGION

†1814.

SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL

SHRI GAURAV GOGOI

SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the availability of ground water during the last five years in North East Region (NER) of the country, year and State-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that water scarcity is gradually becoming one of the most important issues in NER of the country;
- (c) if so, the action taken by the Government to secure the people of NER from the effects of scarcity of water; and
- (d) the impact of such initiatives in addressing the scarcity of water in NER?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

- (a) The  Dynamic  Ground  Water  Resources  Assessment  of  the  country  is  being  regularly  carried  out  by  Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) jointly with States/UTs including North East India. The state-wise details of annual extractable groundwater resources for the last three assessments are given below:

| S. No.   | States / Union Territories   |   Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource in BCM* |   Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource in BCM* |   Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource in BCM* |
|----------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | States / Union Territories   |                                           2023     |                                           2022     |                                           2020     |
| 1        | Arunachal Pradesh            |                                              4.16  |                                              4.07  |                                              2.916 |
| 2        | Assam                        |                                             20.93  |                                             21.4   |                                             21.966 |
| 3        | Manipur                      |                                              0.466 |                                              0.47  |                                              0.46  |
| 4        | Meghalaya                    |                                              1.51  |                                              1.51  |                                              1.82  |
| 5        | Mizoram                      |                                              0.2   |                                              0.2   |                                              0.2   |
| 6        | Nagaland                     |                                              0.54  |                                              0.71  |                                              1.95  |
| 7        | Tripura                      |                                              1.09  |                                              1.064 |                                              1.245 |
| 8        | Sikkim                       |                                              0.218 |                                              0.244 |                                              0.864 |
| Total    | Total                        |                                             29.114 |                                             29.668 |                                             31.421 |

## *Billion Cubic Meters

- (b) & (c) The government is cognizant of the importance of ground water resources in the country including in the North-Eastern  Region.  However,  Water  being  a  State  subject,  sustainable  development  and  management  of groundwater resources, is primarily the responsibility of the State Government. The Central Government facilitates the efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects. In this direction, the important steps taken by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries are given below :-
-  Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has completed the National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Project in the entire mappable area of the country including the entire mappable area of 89,596 sq. km in the NorthEastern States.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.

-  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  5.4  lakh  structures  in North-Eastern States who are working on devising a suitable action plan for its implementation.
-  Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) from 2015-16 in the Country. PDMC mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through precision/micro irrigation & better on-farm water management practices to optimize the use of available water resources. PDMC being a central sector scheme, funding to NE states is provided in the ratio of 90:10.
-  Department  of  Land  Resources  is  implementing  Watershed  Development  Component  of  PMKSY  scheme (PMKSY-WDC) under which rejuvenation of springs in the hilly areas is given importance.
-  Ministry  has  circulated  a  Model  Bill  to  all  the  States/UTs  to  enable  them  to  enact  suitable  ground  water legislation for regulation of its development. So far, 21 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation including  North-Eastern  States  of  Assam  and  Nagaland.  The  model  bill  envisages  that in urban areas, rain water available from roof tops of buildings and other open areas can be utilized gainfully for ground water recharge. Rain water harvesting structures feasible in urban areas include recharge pits, trench, existing tube wells or open wells etc.
-  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.
-  National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water, conservation of river, river bodies and infrastructure should be undertaken in a scientifically planned manner through community participation.
-  Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  has  released  Model  Building  Bye-laws,  2016  which  recommends Rainwater  Harvesting  for  all  types  of  Building  with  plot  size  100  sq.m  or  more.   So  far,  35  States  have incorporated the provisions in their respective building bye laws.

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Government of  India has taken several other significant initiatives for the improvement of groundwater situation in the country which can be seen through link below- https://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/document/steps-taken-by-the-central-government-to-control-water-depletionand-promote-rain-water-harvesting-conservation/

Additionally,  the  various  measures  implemented  by  various  State  Governments  for  the  sustainable management of groundwater in the North-Eastern states are detailed in Annexure.

(d) As a result of all these measures, the ground water situation in the North-East has largely remained stable over the past few years and sufficient availability of water for all activities is being ensured. The Stage of Ground Water Extraction for all the North Eastern states, except Assam (where it is 12.54% in 2023), remains below 10%.

## ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) & (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1814 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2024 REGARDING 'GROUND WATER AVAILABILITY IN NORTH-EAST REGION'.

## Initiatives taken by Government of Assam for sustainable management of Groundwater

The important steps taken by the Government of Assam for sustainable management of ground water in the State of Assam are-

-  The Govt. Of Assam adopted the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' campaign, a pivotal initiative of the Government  of  India  with  the  objective  of  promoting  water  conservation  and  efficient  water  resource management  across  the  State.  By  mobilizing  governmental  agencies,  non-governmental  organizations  and local communities, the campaign seeks to establish a culture of water conservation that is crucial for the state's resilience against water security.
-  The Irrigation Department of Assam proposes to take up renovation of traditional water bodies by taking up projects  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojanan-  Har  Khet  ko  Pani-  Repair,  Renovation  and Restoration  of  Water  bodies  (PMKSY-HKKP-RRR).  Also,  Guwahati  Metropolitan  Development  Authority (GMDA) is also taking up Repair, Renovation & Restoration of Silsako Beel, a large water body within the city of Guwahati under PMKSY-HKKP-RRR.

## Initiatives taken by Government of Arunachal Pradesh for sustainable management of Groundwater

The important steps taken by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh for sustainable management of ground water in the State of Arunachal Pradesh are-

-  In order to conserve water, Department of Water Resources has been taking multipurpose Water Conservation Projects at various places of the State.
-  Various kinds of training programme are annually organized to make aware the different sections of the people about the need of water conservation, quality aspects etc.

## Initiatives taken by Government of Meghalaya for sustainable management of Groundwater

The important steps taken by the Government of Meghalaya for sustainable management of ground water in the State of Meghalaya are-

-  The Government of Meghalaya has taken up number of Water Resource rejuvenation projects like Spring Shed Management, Rain water harvesting scheme, Treatment of Catchment Area etc. To improve retention capacity of the soil.

## Initiatives taken by Government of Mizoram for sustainable management of Groundwater

The important steps taken by the Government of Mizoram for sustainable management of ground water in the State of Mizoram are-

-  The Mizoram Ground Water (Control & Regulation) Act was passed in 2023 and subsequently Rules under this  Act  was  also  passed  by  Cabinet  in  2024  which  will  ensure  systematic  management  and  recharging  of ground, rejuvenation of spring sources.

## Initiatives taken by Government of Nagaland for sustainable management of Groundwater

The important steps taken by the Government of Nagaland for sustainable management of ground water in the State of Nagaland are-

-  Directorate  of  Geology  and  Mining,  under  the  Government  of  Nagaland  has  taken  up  construction  of  few rainwater harvesting structures and artificial recharge of groundwater in urban areas on pilot basis.

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