Lok Sabha Question No. 706 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Project to improve Groundwater Level
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Dr. Nishikant Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 706

## ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## PROJECT TO IMPROVE GROUNDWATER LEVEL

## 706. Dr. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether there is any project to improve groundwater level in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether there  is  any  plan  to  deepen  water  bodies  such  as  lakes/dams/reservoirs  so  as  to  increase  the  water storage capacity and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether the Government is updating the technology to clean rivers and water bodies, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Water being a State subject, the issues related to development, regulation and management of ground water is primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  state  governments.  The  Central  Government  provides  technical  support  and financial assistance through its institutions to complement the efforts of the states. In this regard, the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) is implementing several projects and schemes to continuously monitor and improve the ground water levels in the country whose brief outline is given below:

- i. MoJS is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019 in the country in which special emphasis is  being  given  for  rainwater  harvesting  (RWH)/  groundwater  recharge.  Currently,  JSA  2025  is underway  in  the  country  with  special  focus on  over-exploited  and  critical districts. JSA  is implemented  through  local  convergence  of  various  schemes  and  funds  and  some  of  the  major interventions undertaken under the Abhiyan include construction and repair of rainwater harvesting structures including rooftop & water conservation structures.
- 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 cost-effective, local solutions tailored to specific water challenges across different regions.
- iii. The  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  is  implementing  'Ground  Water  Management  & Regulation  Scheme'(GWM&R),  of  which  regular  monitoring  of  ground  water  levels  and  quality throughout the country and judicious ground water regulation are important pillars. Further, after the successful  completion  of  NAQUIM 1.0 (National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme), which  mapped  country's  aquifers and provided a macro-level understanding of our nation's groundwater resources, CGWB has now embarked upon NAQUIM 2.0 focusing on water stressed and quality affected pockets.
- iv. 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.

- v. 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.
- vi. For sustainable management of ground water resources in urban areas, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs  (MoHUA)  has  come  up  with  Shallow  Aquifer  Management(SAM)  project  to  explore  and showcase different ways in which shallow aquifers can be rejuvenated in order to augment the overall water security of cities.
- vii. In  addition  to  the  above,  a  number  of  States  have  done  notable  work  in  the  field  of  water conservation/harvesting.  Some  of  them  can  be  mentioned  as  'Mukhyamantri  Jal  Swavlamban Abhiyan'  in  Rajasthan,  'JalyuktShibar'  in  Maharashtra,  'SujalamSufalam  Abhiyan'  in  Gujarat, 'Mission Kakatiya' in Telangana, 'Neeru Chettu' in Andhra Pradesh, 'Jal Jeevan Hariyali' in Bihar, 'Jal Hi Jeevan' in Haryana, 'Kudimaramath' scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.
4. (b) Regarding deepening/rejuvenating the water bodies for increasing the storage capacity,
- i. 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, augmenting storage and increasing ground water recharge.
- ii. Centrally sponsored scheme 'Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies (WBs)' is a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) - Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) being implemented by Ministry of Jal Shakti under which works like cleaning of traditional water bodies is taken up.
- iii. Dam Rehabilitation  and  Improvement  Project  (DRIP)  Phase-I  implemented  during  2012-2021  had provision for need-based de-siltation of reservoirs to restore their lost capacity to the extent possible. Currently, the DRIP Phase II and III scheme (2021-2031) is being implemented wherein too provision has been made for need based de-siltation of the reservoirs.
- iv. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs is currently implementing Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 Scheme under which Rejuvenation of water bodies and wells in urban  areas  is  one  of  the  main  components.  Mission  promotes  water  source  conservation,  recycle/ reuse of treated used water by involving community at large.
- v. Under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS),  works relating  to  water  conservation  and  water  harvesting,  including  large  scale  desiltation  projects  for traditional  water  bodies,  rejuvenation  of  river  stretches  etc.  have  been  conducted  by  various  state governments.

(c) The Ministry is constantly exploring and harnessing new technologies for cleaning of rivers and water bodies. Under the Namami Gange programme of the Ministry, various innovative and new technologies have been adopted based on regulatory requirements and site conditions. The following are some of the important technologies being employed:

-  Multi-storey Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs):
-  Nature-based sewage treatment using Constructed Wetlands
-  Packaged Sewage Treatment Plant - 'Johkasou':
-  Advance Oxidation Process (AOP):
-  Electrocoagulation:
-  Mandatory Tertiary Treatment by filtration and disinfection to achieve the stringent norms for river revival.

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