Lok Sabha Question No. 2162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Status and Expansion of Atal Bhujal Yojana
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2162

## ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026

## STATUS AND EXPANSION OF ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA

## 2162. SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the current status of the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) including the number of States and districts covered and the funds allocated and utilized thereon;

(b) whether the Government has any plans to extend ABY to other States facing groundwater scarcity and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the Government's assessment of the impact of ABY on groundwater management in the pilot States?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  was  a  pilot  scheme  for  community  led  participatory  groundwater  management implemented in priority water stressed areas across 8,203 priority water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 blocks  in  80  districts  of  seven  states  viz.  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra, Rajasthan  and  Uttar  Pradesh.   During  its  course,  the  programme  has  demonstrably  improved  groundwater management  through  active  community  participation,  preparation  of  participatory  Water  Security  Plans, adoption of water efficient practices, community-led monitoring, and implementation of recharge structures.

The total amount of funds released and utilised, State-wise, as on 09.02.2026 under Atal Bhujal Yojana is provided in Annexure .

(b) Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  was  a  pilot  programme conceived  with  a  fixed  duration  &  outlay  which  has successfully  demonstrated  the  efficacy  of  community  centred  ground  water  management  and  provided  a replicable model which can be taken up for implementation by other States.

(c) Overall  Impact  Assessment  Study  of  Atal  Bhujal  Yojana  has  been  conducted  by  Quality  Council  of India (QCI). On the basis of detailed field surveys in the scheme implementation areas and interactions with local  communities,  the  study  has  recognized  important  changes  brought  about  by  the  scheme,  like enhanced community  awareness  on  ground  water  issues  through  capacity  building  and  IEC  activities, women's participation in leadership and decision making in groundwater management, social inclusivity and overall knowledge enhancement and willingness of the community to partake in groundwater conservation and water management.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2162 TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  12.02.2026  REGARDING  'STATUS  AND EXPANSION OF ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA'.

(Amount In Rs. Crores)

| State          |   Funds released/ assigned (till 09.02.2026) |   Funds utilized (till 09.02.2026) |
|----------------|----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Gujarat        |                                       623.44 |                             539.08 |
| Haryana        |                                       731.56 |                             652.64 |
| Karnataka      |                                       940.98 |                             894.77 |
| Madhya Pradesh |                                       229.39 |                             197.47 |
| Maharashtra    |                                       671.87 |                             627.14 |
| Rajasthan      |                                       518.77 |                             487.68 |
| Uttar Pradesh  |                                       274.17 |                             227.9  |
| Total          |                                      3990.18 |                            3626.68 |

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