Lok Sabha Question No. 2993 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Reduction of Ground Water Level
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari, Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2993

ANSWERED ON 21.12.2023

## REDUCTION OF GROUND WATER LEVEL

## 2993. SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  reducing  ground  water  level  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(b) the status of ground water level available, since 2019, State-wise;

(c) the details of States where usage of ground water has crossed hundred per cent;

(d) whether the Government is taking any steps to reduce the dependence on ground water and restore the water table; and

(e) the expected number of people who would be affected by the depletion of ground water in major cities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) Central Ground Water Board is periodically monitoring the ground water levels throughout the Country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. During the November 2022, the depth to water level in the country ranged from less than 2.0 to more than 40 metres below ground level (m bgl). Out of the 17599 wells measured, 86.92% wells had depth to water level (measured in terms of mbgl - metres below ground level) in the range of 0-10 metres. Further, in order to assess the long term fluctuation in ground water level, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2022 has been compared with the decadal mean of November (20122021).  analysis  of  water  level  data  indicates  that  about  61.1%  of  the  wells  monitored  have  registered  rise  in ground water level .

(b) State-wise Depth to water level (ground water level) and distribution of percentage of wells for the years 2019 to 2022 can be seen at https://mowr.nic.in/core/WebsiteUpload/2023/Annexure%20LSUQ%202993%2021.12.2023.pdf

(c) As per the Dynamic Ground Water Resource of India - 2023, the overall Stage of Extraction of Ground water (SOE) for the country, which is a ratio of total annual ground water extracted to total annual extractable ground  water,  stands  at  59.26%.  At  state  level,  three  states  viz.  Haryana(135.74%),  Punjab(163.76%)  and Rajasthan(148.77%) and Union Territories of Daman & Diu(170.70%) and Dadra & Nagar Haveli(131.53%) have recorded SOE of more than 100 per cent.

(d) Water  being  a  State  subject,  the  issues  related  to  development,  regulation  and  management  of  ground water is primarily the responsibility of the state governments. The Central Government provides technical support and financial assistance through its institutions and various centrally sponsored schemes.

Some of the important measures taken by the Central Government for reducing the dependence on ground water and arresting the decline of ground water table in the country can be seen at https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2023/02/2023021742.pdf

SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ

Some of them are listed below: -

- i. Government of India is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country in which special emphasis is being given for rainwater harvesting / groundwater recharge.  First JSA was launched in 2019 in water stressed blocks of 256 districts. JSA is being continued in the year 2023 as well.
- ii. Hon'ble Prime Minister has launched Amrit Sarovar Mission on 24 th April 2022. The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- iii. Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) has launched Atal Bhujal Yojana in 8213 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 7 states, which is a community led scheme for participatory ground water management focussing on demand  side  management  of  ground  water.  Under  this  scheme,  inter  alia,  states  are  incentivized  for adopting  water  efficient  water  use  agricultural  practices  like  switching  over  to  drips/sprinklers,  crop diversification to less water incentive crops, mulching etc.
- iv. 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.
- v. MoJS promotes 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.
- vi. Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) has been set up under MoJS to plan and execute nation-wide program for promotion of efficient use of water in irrigation, domestic water supply, municipal and/or industrial uses in the country.
- vii. National  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  Programme  (NAQUIM)  is  being  implemented  with  the objectives to delineate and characterize the aquifers geometry and develop plans for sustainable ground water management. Aquifer mapping and management program has been completed by 31.03.2023 and has covered about 25 lakh sq.km area of the country. Further, aquifer maps and management plans are being shared with the State for suitable demand side and supply side interventions.
- viii. The Central Government finances the construction of water harvesting and water conservation structures across the country through the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Watershed Development Component(PMKSY-WDC).
- ix. In addition, a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting such as  'Mukhyamantri  Jal  Swavlamban  Abhiyan'  in  Rajasthan,  'Jalyukt  Shibar'  in  Maharashtra,  'Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan' in Gujarat, 'Mission Kakatiya' in Telangana, Neeru Chettu' in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, 'Jal Hi Jeevan' in Haryana, and Kudimaramath scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.

(e) Depletion or scarcity of ground water affects the society as a whole and the people at various social strata are  affected  in  different  degrees  which  depends  upon  time  and  region.  In  urban  areas,  studies  indicate  that encroachment  of  water  bodies,  excessive  concretization  of  earth  surface  and  unmindful  abstraction  for  nonpriority uses are the major reasons for depletion of ground water.