Lok Sabha Question No. 843 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Water Scarcity and Groundwater Depletion Issues
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Zia Ur Rehman, Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 843

## ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## WATER SCARCITY AND GROUNDWATER DEPLETION ISSUES

## 843. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:

## SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  growing  water  scarcity  and  groundwater depletion issues across various States of the country, exacerbating the drinking water problem;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure sustainable  groundwater  management,  strengthen  water  conservation  projects  and  improve  rural  and urban water supply systems; and

(c) whether the Government proposes to introduce any special scheme to promote water conservation and rainwater harvesting in rural and urban areas and if so, the details thereof highlighting the main features of the scheme?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) to (c) The government is committed to ensure sustainable management and development of water and groundwater resources of the country by promoting judicious use and robust conservation efforts. The  data  available  with  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  indicates  that  overall  ground  water situation in the country is showing steady improvement as a result of sustained efforts of the government and  other  stakeholders.  As  per  the  dynamic  ground  water  resource  assessment  data  of  CGWB,  total annual  ground  water  recharge  in  the  country  has  increased  from  432  BCM  (Billion  Cubic  Meters)  to 448.52  BCM between 2017 to 2025. Similarly,  the  percentage  of  safe  assessment  units  has  increased from 62.6% to 73.14% and that of over-exploited units has declined from 17.2% to 10.8% during the same period.

Despite  this,  some  pockets  of  the  country  may  be  experiencing  water  scarcity  and  depletion  of ground water reserves due to varied reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization and urbanization etc.

Water being a State subject, sustainable development and management of water and groundwater resources  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments.  However,  the  Central  Government facilitates the efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its

various schemes and projects. The major steps taken in this direction, including the latest initiatives are provided below:

- i. Efforts  of  the  Central  government  for  augmenting  the  water/groundwater  resources  of  the country,  are  mainly  channeled  through  the  flagship  campaign  of  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan  (JSA). JSA is a time bound and mission mode programme being conducted annually since 2019 by the M/o Jal Shakti, wherein all the efforts and funds under various schemes and projects are converged to deliver water harvesting and artificial recharge works on the ground.

Currently, JSA 2025 is underway in the country with special focus on over-exploited and critical districts. As per the available information, under JSA, completion of around 1.21 cr lakh water conservation and artificial recharge works has been coordinated through convergence in the country in the last 4 years, which has played a key role in enhancing the sustainability of drinking water and irrigation sources.

- ii. To further  strengthen  the  momentum  of  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan,  Jal  Sanchay  Jan  Bhagidari:  A Community-Driven Path to Water Sustainability in India has been launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister with a vision to make rain water harvesting a mass movement in the country. By promoting community ownership and responsibility, the initiative seeks to develop costeffective, local solutions tailored to specific water challenges across different regions.
- iii. M/o  Jal  Shakti  has  successfully  demonstrated  the  efficacy  of  community  led  participatory ground water management through Atal Bhujal Yojana, which was implemented in 80 water stressed  districts  in  7  States.  Construction  of  various  rain  water  harvesting  and  recharge structures  like  check  dams,  ponds,  shafts  etc.  as  well  as  promotion  of  micro  irrigation  was taken up through convergence and by use of incentive funds under the scheme.
- iv. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal, being implemented by this Ministry in partnership with states, marks an important milestone for providing contamination free potable tap water to  every  rural  household  of  the  country  in  adequate  quantity,  of  prescribed  quality  and  on regular  &  long-term  basis.  Further,  JJM  marks  a  paradigm  shift  in  rural  water  supply  by adopting  a  demand-driven,  community-led  approach  and  integrating  source  sustainability measures  such  as  rain  water  harvesting,  artificial  recharge  and  grey  water  management  as mandatory components.
- v. With an objective to ensure sustainable drinking water access in urban areas, M/o Housing and  Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA),  GoI,  has  been  implementing  AMRUT  and  AMRUT  2.0 Schemes,  which  are  major  initiatives  to  improve  the  quality  of  life  in  cities,  including expanding water supply schemes and providing potable tap water connections.

- vi. 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. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit  Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country leading to enhanced water storage and ground water recharge.
- vii. Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA & FW) is implementing Per Drop More Crop Scheme since 2015-16, which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation leading to conservation of ground water.
- viii. After  the  successful  completion  of  NAQUIM  1.0,  which  mapped  country's  aquifers  and provided  a  macro-level  understanding  of  our  nation's  groundwater  resources,  the  Central Ground Water Board has now embarked upon NAQUIM 2.0, focusing on water stressed and quality affected pockets. Under NAQUIM 2.0 state-of-the-art technologies are harnessed, for generating  highly  detailed,  scientific  data  which  serve  as  an  important  tool  for  making informed decisions for sustainable groundwater management.
- ix. CGWB has also prepared the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020, for the entire country providing a broad outline for construction of around 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 BCM (Billion cubic meter).  The  Master  plan  has  been  shared  with  State/UT  administrations  for  suitable  field interventions.

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