Lok Sabha Question No. 1053 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Atal Bhujal Yojana in Water-Stressed Areas
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Atul Garg

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1053

## ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026

## ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA IN WATER-STRESSED AREAS

## 1053. SHRI ATUL GARG:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the current status of groundwater levels in the over-exploited blocks of Ghaziabad;

(b)  the  details  of  enforcement  of  guidelines  for  groundwater  extraction  by  industries  and  high-rise societies;

(c) the status of implementation of the Atal Bhujal Yojana in the water-stressed areas of the said district;

(d)  the  measures  taken  to  promote  artificial  recharge  structures  and  rainwater  harvesting  in  urban  and rural areas; and

(e) the Government's plan to supply surface water (Ganga water) to reduce dependence on groundwater?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country including Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh, are being  assessed  annually  by  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  in  co-ordination  with  State Governments.  As  per  the  latest  assessment  report  of  2025,  out  of  total  05  Assessment  Units  of  the Ghaziabad District of Uttar Pradesh, 04 nos. of units (80%) have been categorized as 'Over-exploited' (Ghaziabad  City,  Bhojpur,  Razapur  &  Loni)  and  01  Unit  (20  %)  is  categorized  as  'Semi-critical' (Muradnagar).

With regard to ground water level, as per the monitoring data of CGWB for the month of November 2025 (post monsoon 2025), about 66.67% of the monitored wells across the Over-Exploited blocks of Ghaziabad have recorded ground water levels within the range of 10 mbgl (meters below ground level).

(b) The  Central  Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA)  under  the  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  is  involved  in regulation  of  ground  water  extraction  at  the  central  level.  That  apart,  17  States/UTs,  including  Uttar Pradesh,  are  having  their  own  regulatory  mechanism/bodies.  CGWA  issues  No  Objection  Certificates (NOCs)  for  ground  water  extraction  for  various  purposes  in  accordance  with  its  Guidelines  dated 24.09.2020 which have pan India applicability. As per the Guidelines, ground water extraction charges are levied on various projects, including industries and residential apartments/group housing societies, as per  the  prescribed  quantum  linked  slabs,  subject  to  stipulated  compliance  conditions.  CGWA  has  also been taking stringent measures including imposition heavy penalties and Environmental Compensation

(EC) charges for illegal extraction of ground water and even resorting to sealing of bore wells in fitting cases.

(c) Atal Bhujal Yojana  was  a  pilot  scheme  for  community  led  participatory  groundwater  management with  a  fixed  duration  and  outlay,  implemented  in  priority  water  stressed  areas  of  the  country,  in consultation with States. The Scheme was not implemented in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

(d) 'Water' being a State subject, sustainable development and management of water and groundwater resources is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. The Central Government, on its part, 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, covering both rural and urban areas of the country, 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), which is a time bound and mission mode programme being conducted annually since 2019 by the M/o Jal Shakti. As per the data available on JSA dashboard, completion of around 1.23  cr  water  conservation  works  has  been  coordinated  through  convergence  across  the country,  covering  both  rural  and  urban  areas,  since  2021  (through  convergence  with MGNREGS alone). In Ghaziabad district, 859 such works have been completed.
- ii. To  further  strengthen  the  momentum  of  Jal  Shakti  Abhiyan,  Jal  Sanchay  Jan  Bhagidari (JSJB) has been launched with a vision to make rain water harvesting a mass movement in the country.  So far, approximately 40 lakh such structures have been constructed/renovated in the country under the campaign, with 148 structures in Ghaziabad district.
- iii. Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched by the Government of India which aimed at developing and rejuvenating water bodies in each district of the country. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit  Sarovars  have  been  constructed/rejuvenated  in  the  country,  with  100  in  Ghaziabad district,  leading to enhanced water storage and ground water recharge.
- iv. With an objective to ensure sustainability of water resources 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, enabling them to become 'self-reliant' and 'water secure'.  Rejuvenation of urban water bodies is an important thrust area under the scheme.
- v. Under Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) of MoHUA, priority cities have been selected for addressing groundwater depletion and water logging, by taking up over 35 pilot recharge structures in 6 cities in various parts of the country.
- vi. CGWB has also prepared the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020, for the  entire  country  providing  a  broad  outline  for  construction  of  rain  water  harvesting  and artificial  recharge  structures  in  the  country.  The  Master  plan  has  already  been  shared  with State/UT administrations for taking up suitable field interventions.

(e) Planning  and  implementation  of  water  supply  schemes  is  the  mandate  of  State  governments.  As mentioned  above,  this  Ministry  supports  the  endeavours  of  the  states  through  financial  and  technical assistance.

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