Lok Sabha Question No. 175 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-05
Subject: India Water Week, 2016
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI, SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. * 175 ANSWERED ON 05.05.2016

## INDIA WATER WEEK, 2016

| *175.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | SHRI MANOJ TIWARI DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:                                                                                                                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| (a) whether the India Water Week, 2016 was celebrated recently; (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; (c) whether the Government has adopted any multi-dimensional approach for the redressal of the water issues; and (d) if so, the details thereof along with benefits likely to accure therefrom? | (a) whether the India Water Week, 2016 was celebrated recently; (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; (c) whether the Government has adopted any multi-dimensional approach for the redressal of the water issues; and (d) if so, the details thereof along with benefits likely to accure therefrom? |
| THE MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | GANGA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *175 to be answered  on  Thursday,  the  5 th May,  2016  on  'India  Water  Week,  2016'  raised  by  Shri  Manoj Tiwari and Dr. Subhash  Bhamre.

(a) & (b)  Yes, Madam. The India Water Week, 2016 was held from 4 th -8 th April 2016 at New Delhi with the  theme 'Water  for  all:  Striving  together' .  More  than  1500  delegates  representing  National  and International Organizations, Research Institutes, Educational Institutions and  NGOs  from  water resources, agriculture, power sectors etc. participated in the India Water Week.  Besides Delegates from 14 countries including from Israel, Hungary, Burundi, Bhutan etc. also attended the India Water Week.

During the conference various topics relating to Water Resources development, management, planning and conservation of water were deliberated upon with a view to find out strategies towards achieving the goal  of 'Water for All' in  line  with  Government  of  India's  vision 'Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas'. Details  of  seminars,  penal  discussion,  brain  storming  session,  case  study  and  other  events  on  various subjects  covered  are  given  in Annexure .  A  multi  disciplinary  conference  of  various  aspects  of  Water Resources and exhibition to showcase the technology available in the water sectors was also organized.

It emerged from the deliberations that sustainable development of water resources should be taken up at greater pace. The conference highlighted the need for capacity building of all the stakeholders including farmers.  Best  practices  of  water  resources  development,  management  and  conservation  were  also deliberated upon.

(c) & (d) A multi-dimensional approach for redressal of the issue of water scarcity has been undertaken as per details given below:-

(i) 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.

(ii) 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 generation apart from the incidental benefits of flood moderation, navigation, drinking and industrial water supply, fisheries, salinity and pollution control etc.

Contd.//2//….

(iii)  This  Ministry  provides  technical  assistance  to  the  State  Governments  for  water  conservation measures  through  various  schemes  and  programmes  viz.  Accelerated  Irrigation  Benefits  Programme, Scheme for Repair, Renovation & Restoration of Water Bodies, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojna etc. (iv) The National Water Policy, 2012 has been formulated which has made several recommendations for conservation, development, improved management of water resources in the country. (v)  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. (vi)  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. (vii)  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. (viii)  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.

(ix)  For  increasing  water  use  efficiency,  a  proposal  has  been  mooted  to  establish  National  Bureau  for Water use Efficiency.

*****

(Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) and (b) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 175 to be answered on 05.05.2016 regarding 'INDIA WATER WEEK, 2016')

## Details of Technical Sessions of the Conference of IWW-2016

| 1                     | Water Literacy for All                                                              |
|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2                     | Farmers and Water                                                                   |
| 3                     | Challenges of Water Supply and Sanitation for Urban and Rural Areas                 |
| 4                     | Water and Health - Managing Water Quality                                           |
| 5                     | Environment, Climate Change and Water                                               |
| 6                     | Agro Industries and Water                                                           |
| 7                     | Creating Awareness for Water Conservation in Younger Generation                     |
| 8                     | More Crop Per Drop - Adoption of Precise Irrigation Technology                      |
| Panel Discussion      | Panel Discussion                                                                    |
| 1                     | Experiences from Jal Kranti Abhiyan                                                 |
| 2                     | Action Plan for Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY)                         |
| 3                     | Water Management - Learning from Ancient Wisdom and Traditional Practices           |
| 4                     | Interlinking of Rivers Projects- Achievements and Way Forward                       |
| 5                     | Strategies to Achieve target under UN Sustainable Development Goals in Water Sector |
| 6                     | River Siltation, its Impact and Way Forward                                         |
| 7                     | Water and Power                                                                     |
| Brainstorming Session | Brainstorming Session                                                               |
| 1                     | Role of Water Storage in River Rejuvenation and Sustaining E-Flows                  |
| 2                     | Knowledge Transfer and Capacity Building of Water Resources Professionals           |
| 3                     | Financing of Irrigation Projects                                                    |
| 4                     | Groundwater Aquifer Mapping - Lessons Learnt                                        |
| 5                     | Institutionalizing People's Participation in Water Planning and Management          |
| 6                     | Stakeholders Centric Research in Water Sector                                       |
| Case Study            | Case Study                                                                          |
| 1                     | Rainwater Harvesting and Water Conservation at Local Level                          |
| 2                     | Efficient Water Use in Agriculture                                                  |
| 3                     | Model for Efficient Water Management at Local Level in Urban/ Peri-Urban Areas      |
| 4                     | Basin Level Management Initiatives                                                  |
| 5                     | Flood Risk Assessment : Lessons Learnt from Recent Disasters in India               |
| 6                     | Zero Water Industry and Industrial Water Efficiency                                 |
| Side Event            | Side Event                                                                          |
| 1                     | Dam Safety Management-DRIP Initiative                                               |
| 2                     | Israel Makes in India- CoE's and Commercial Success Stories                         |
| 3                     | Water Film Fest                                                                     |
| 4                     | India Irrigation Forum - 2016                                                       |
| 5                     | Participatory Irrigation Management (INPIM)                                         |
| Special Session       | Special Session                                                                     |
| 1                     | Community Participation in Water Resources                                          |

## Seminar