Lok Sabha Question No. 70 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-28
Subject: Availability and Utilisation of Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*70

ANSWERED ON 28.04.2016

## AVAILABILITY AND UTILISATION OF WATER

## †*70.        SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND  GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of shortage of water in various parts of the country especially in drought affected States, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the availability of water in the country in different water bodies at present and the quantity utilized out of it annually;
- (c) whether there is a big gap between the availability and utilisation of water, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the concrete measures taken/to be taken for augmenting, conserving and utilising the water in the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.*70 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.04.2016 REGARDING AVAILABILITY AND UTILISATION OF WATER.

(a) Yes,  Madam.  Government  is  aware  that  there  is  shortage  of  water  in  several  parts  of  the country, especially in drought affected States, largely on account of low rainfall during previous years and adoption of water intensive/commercial crops.

(b)&(c) Estimated average annual availability of water is 1869 BCM and utilizable quantum of surface water  in  major  river  basin  of  the  country  is  690  BCM  (Details  as  per  Annexure).    In  addition replenishable  Ground  Water  is  433  BCM.  It  is  however,  estimated  that  about  450  BCM  of  surface water is being utilized for various purposes annually. Additionally, about 245 BCM of ground water is also being utilized annually for various purposes.

The  gap  between  availability  and  utilization  of  water  is  due  to  several  factors  like  topographical, hydrological and other constraints like inadequate storage facilities etc. The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD), in its report in 1999, assessed that the annual water requirement by the year 2025 and 2050 will be about 843 BCM and 1180 BCM respectively.

(d) State Governments undertake several measures for augmenting, conserving and utilizing the water resources  which  inter-alia  include  conservation  of  water  resources  in  reservoirs  and  traditional  water bodies, rain water harvesting and artificial recharge of ground water.  This Ministry provides technical and  financial  assistance  to  the  State  Governments  in  this  regard  through  various  schemes  and programmes  viz.  Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme,  Scheme  for  Repair,  Renovation  & Restoration of Water-bodies etc.

Central  Ground  Water  Board,  under  this  Ministry  has  prepared  a  conceptual  document  entitled 'Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to  Ground  Water  in  India'  during  the  year  2013  envisaging construction of 1.11 crore Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge structures in the country to harness  85  BCM  (Billion  Cubic  Meters)  of  water.  The  augmented  ground  water  resources  will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.

Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water constitute a special focus area for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) works and about 2/3 rd of the expenditure is directly related to construction of such structures.

Central Government has launched the National Water Mission with the objective of conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management.  Improved water use efficiency in different sectors such as in irrigation (through micro-irrigation, e.g., drip, sprinkler etc.), industry and household is being encouraged through various initiatives, programmes/ schemes of the Government.

The National Water Policy, 2012 has been formulated which has made several recommendations for conservation, development and improved management of water resources in the country.

Jal Kranti Abhiyan (2015-16 to 2017-18) has been launched in order to consolidate water conservation and management in the country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement.

Recycle and reuse of water, after treatment to specified standards as well as rainwater harvesting and artificial  recharge  are  being  incentivized  through  various  initiatives,  programmes/  schemes  of  the Government.

Various Mass Awareness Programmes, Water Management Training Programmes and other trainings, Workshops, Painting Competitions etc. are organized by this Ministry to encourage and support good practices for augmenting, conserving and utilizing water in the country.

This Ministry has also formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) envisaging inter-basin transfer of water.    The  implementation  of  NPP  would  give  benefits  of  approximately  35  million  hectare  of additional  irrigation  potential  and  34000  MW  hydro  Power  generation  apart  from  the  incidental benefits of flood moderation, navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.

*****

## Annexure-I

## WATER RESOURCES POTENTIAL OF RIVER BASINS OF INDIA

| S. No.   | River Basin                                                | Average Water Resources Potential (BCM)*   | Utilisable surface water resources (BCM)**   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Indus                                                      | 73.3                                       | 46                                           |
| 2        | Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna                                   |                                            |                                              |
|          | (a) Ganga                                                  | 525                                        | 250                                          |
|          | (b) Brahmaputra                                            | 537.2                                      | 24                                           |
|          | (c) Barak &others                                          | 48.4                                       | -                                            |
| 3        | Godavari                                                   | 110.5                                      | 76.3                                         |
| 4        | Krishna                                                    | 78.1                                       | 58                                           |
| 5        | Cauvery                                                    | 21.4                                       | 19                                           |
| 6        | Subernarekha                                               | 12.4                                       | 6.8                                          |
| 7        | Brahmani-Baitarni                                          | 28.5                                       | 18.3                                         |
| 8        | Mahanadi                                                   | 66.9                                       | 50                                           |
| 9        | Pennar                                                     | 6.3                                        | 6.9                                          |
| 10       | Mahi                                                       | 11                                         | 3.1                                          |
| 11       | Sabarmati                                                  | 3.8                                        | 1.9                                          |
| 12       | Narmada                                                    | 45.6                                       | 34.5                                         |
| 13       | Tapi                                                       | 14.9                                       | 14.5                                         |
| 14       | West Flowing Rivers from Tapi to Tadri                     | 87.4                                       | 11.9                                         |
| 15       | West Flowing Rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari              | 113.5                                      | 24.3                                         |
| 16       | East Flowing Rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar            | 22.5                                       | 13.1                                         |
| 17       | East Flowing Rivers between Pennar&Kanyakumari             | 16.5                                       | 16.5                                         |
| 18       | West Flowing Rivers of Kutch and Saurashtra including Luni | 15.1                                       | 15                                           |
| 19       | Area of Inland Drainage in Rajasthan                       | Negl.                                      | --                                           |
| 20       | Minor Rivers draining into Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh  | 31                                         | --                                           |
|          | Total                                                      | 1,869.4                                    | 690                                          |