Lok Sabha Question No. 1868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-10
Subject: Water Conservation in Rural Areas
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1868

ANSWERED ON 10.12.2015

## WATER CONSERVATION IN RURAL AREAS

## 1868.   SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR

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

(a)  the  details  of  the  Government  schemes to support and increase water conservation in rural areas along with the number of villages selected thereunder including achievements made in this regard, so far; and

(b)  the  measures  taken  to  ensure  involvement  of  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  and  other  local bodies in leading and participating in rural water conservation efforts?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a)  & (b) Several measures for conservation, development and improved management of water resources  are  undertaken  by  the  respective  State  Governments  which,  inter-alia,  include conservation of water resources in reservoirs, traditional water bodies, rain water harvesting and artificial  recharge  of  ground  water.  Central  Government  provides  technical  and  financial assistance  to  the  State  Governments  in  this  regard  through  various  schemes  and  programmes. Some of the initiatives are as follows:

- Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB),  under  this  Ministry  has  prepared  a  conceptual document entitled 'Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India' in the year  2013,  which  envisages  construction  of  different  types  of  Artificial  Recharge  and Rainwater  Harvesting  structures  in  the  country  to  harness  85  Billion  Cubic  Meters (BCM) of water to augment ground water resources in rural and urban areas. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.

- As per Schedule-I of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water constitute a special focus for MGNREGA works and about 2/3 rd  of the expenditure  is  directly  related  to  construction  of  water  harvesting  structures  in rural areas.
- CGWB has organized Tier-II and Tier-III Trainings to build up the capacity of various stakeholders (including Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for their involvement in water conservation efforts.
- Jal  Kranti  Abhiyan  has  been  launched  during  the  year  2015-16  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. The Objectives of Jal Krant iAbhiyan include strengthening grass root involvement of  all  stakeholders  including  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  and  local  bodies  in  the water security and development schemes (e.g. Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM).
-  Under the Jal  Gram  Yojana  component  of  Jal  Kranti  Abhiyan,  two  villages  in  each district preferably being a part of dark block or facing acute water scarcity, are to be selected as 'Jal Grams'. An integrated water security Plan, water conservation, water management and allied activities are envisaged for the villages to ensure optimum and sustainable use of water.
-  Jal Gram Yojana also envisages formation of Village Level Committee in each Jal Gram to be headed by Gram Pradhan/Sarpanch of the Village and comprising of representatives from Panchayati Raj Institutions, WUAs, Village Water and Sanitation Committee etc. for  Formulation,  Implementation  and  Monitoring  of  Integrated  Water  Security  Plan  as well as Advocacy of Water Conservation in their respective villages.

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