Lok Sabha Question No. 913 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Groundwater Conservation in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 913

ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION IN UTTAR PRADESH

†913. SHRI NARESH CHANDRA UTTAM PATEL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the norms for groundwater conservation in Uttar Pradesh;

(b) the steps taken so far to overcome water crisis in Fatehpur;

(c) the details of the schemes under consideration for water conservation in Fatehpur district;

(d) the details of the norms for long-term policies of water conservation in Uttar Pradesh;

(e) the details of the subsidy provided for drip irrigation (micro-irrigation) system in Fatehpur; and

(f)  the  names  of  water-related  subsidy  schemes  under  consideration  of  the  Government  in  respect  of Fatehpur district?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Conservation and sustainable management of ground water resources in the country, including in the state of Uttar Pradesh requires a multi-pronged approach. Regular monitoring of ground water parameters and  quantum  of  availability,  identification  of  priority  water  stressed  areas,  devising  right  strategies  for artificial  recharge  and  rain  water  harvesting  suitable  to  the  terrain  conditions,  resorting  to  sustainable agricultural practices, creating mass awareness and ensuring community participation, regulation of ground water withdrawal for various purposes, putting in place a suitable legal and policy framework towards these ends etc. are the fundamental norms for a robust ground water management regime.

(b) & (c) 'Water' is a state subject and the responsibility of proper management of ground water resources lies primarily with the concerned state governments. The Central Government complements the efforts of the states by providing technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects. In this direction, the important steps taken and schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central  ministries  for  sustainable  management  of  ground  water  resources  in  the  country,  including  in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, are given 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 2025 is being implemented in the country with a special focus on water stressed districts. 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. As per the information, under JSA, around 2127 water conservation and rain water  harvesting  structures  have  been  constructed,  2476  traditional  water  bodies  have  been rejuvenated and 687 reuse and recharge structures created in Fatehpur District of Uttar Pradesh during the period from March 2021 to July 2025.

- ii. CGWB has taken up National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) under Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM &R) Scheme with an aim to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization. Entire mappable area of the country of around 25 lakh sq. km,  including  4152  sq  km  of  Fatehpur  District,  has  been  mapped  under  the  scheme  and management  plans  have  been  shared  with  the  respective  State/District  administrations  for implementation.
- iii. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB for the entire country, including Uttar Pradesh and shared with States/UTs for taking up suitable filed interventions. Master plan for artificial recharge is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including estimated cost. In Fatehpur district, a total of 839 Sq.Km area has been recommended as suitable for Artificial Recharge and various structures like Check-dams, Recharge shafts, Recharge Ponds and roof top rain water harvesting structures have been proposed.
- iv. 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 Uttar Pradesh. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country, with 258 in Fatehpur District, Uttar Pradesh.
- v. 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, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting.  So  far,  21  States/UTs  including  Uttar  Pradesh  have  adopted  and  implemented  the ground water legislation.

(d) The long term policy for conservation and sustainable management of ground water resources in Uttar Pradesh  would  be  to  continue  with  the  fundamental  principles  of  regular  monitoring,  grassroots  level planning,  community involvement and time bound execution of projects. All these measures are already being  taken  up  through  various  schemes  and  programmes  detailed  above  and  the  same  will  have  to  be continued in the future as well.

(e) The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in the Country including Uttar Pradesh from the year 2015-16. The Government provides  financial  assistance  @  55%  for  small  and  marginal  farmers  and  @  45%  for  other farmers for installation of Drip and Sprinkler systems under the PDMC. Besides State Governments also provide Top-up subsidy to farmers from their State Budget. As per the information received from the M/o Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, an amount of Rs. 1293.53 crore has been released to the state of Uttar Pradesh as Central Assistance from 2015-16 to till date under PDMC scheme and an area of 4,95,542 Ha has been brought under micro irrigation in the state. Further, in Fatehpur District, an area of 3896.61 Ha has been covered. Further, as informed by Horticulture department of Uttar Pradesh, a total of Rs. 6.99 Cr has been given as subsidy to farmers for adopting micro irrigation in Fatehpur District during the period from April 2023 to June 2025.

(f) The Union government has been advocating the need for subsidizing the small and marginal farmers, women farmers and farmers belonging to weaker sections on a priority basis for taking up micro irrigation and  several  other  water  conservation  and  ground  water  recharge  related  activities.  However,  it  is  for  the individual  state  governments  to  devise  suitable  guidelines  under  their  ongoing  and  proposed  schemes  to ensure  that  adequate  amount  of  subsidies  are  provided  to  the  needy  individuals  in  order  to  boost  water conservation activities in the country, including in Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

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