Lok Sabha Question No. 181 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-10
Subject: Rain Water Harvesting
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: LALLU SINGH, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †* 181

ANSWERED ON 10.03.2016

## RAIN WATER HARVESTING

| †*181.                                                                                                                                                                                           | SHRI LALLU SINGH SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that for want of adequate rain water harvesting, a major | Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that for want of adequate rain water harvesting, a major |
| the last three years;                                                                                                                                                                            | the last three years;                                                                                                                                                                            |
| (c) if so, the details thereof along with the corrective action taken thereon; and (d) the steps taken by the Government towards effective rain water harvesting in the country?                 | (c) if so, the details thereof along with the corrective action taken thereon; and (d) the steps taken by the Government towards effective rain water harvesting in the country?                 |
| ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND REJUVENATION                                                                                                                 | ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND REJUVENATION                                                                                                                 |
| THE GANGA (Prof. SANWAR LAL JAT):                                                                                                                                                                | THE GANGA (Prof. SANWAR LAL JAT):                                                                                                                                                                |
| (a) to (d)                                                                                                                                                                                       | A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                                                                                                                   |

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PART S (a)  TO  (d)  OF  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  †*181 TO  BE ANSWERED  ON  10.03.2016  IN  LOK  SABHA REGARDING 'RAIN WATER HARVESTING' ASKED BY SHRI LALLU SINGH AND SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV, HON'BLE M.Ps, LOK SABHA:

(a) India  receives  an  average  rainfall  of  about  1170  mm,  which  corresponds  to  an  annual precipitation  of  about  4000  BCM  (Billion  Cubic  Metre)  including  snowfall,  with  considerable variation in rainfall, both temporally and spatially.  Nearly 75% of this i.e., 3000 BCM occurs during  the  monsoon  season  confined  to  3  to  4  months  (June  to  September)  in  a  year.    After accounting for evaporation and evapo-transpiration, the average annual water availability in the Country  has  been  assessed  as  1869  BCM.    It  has  been  estimated  that  owing  to  topographic, hydrological and other constraints, the utilizable water is 1123 BCM, which comprises of 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water resources.

(b) & (c) As  per  information available with Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), 1109 complaints  of  illegal  extraction  of  ground  water  by  digging  of  bore-wells  have  been  received from 9 States including National Capital Region (NCR) during last three years (2013-15).  Statewise number of complaints received regarding illegal extraction of ground water by digging of bore-wells  in  the  last  three  years  is  given  at Annexure. The  corrective  action  taken  by  the concerned  Deputy  Commissioner/SDM/Authorized  Officer  is  in  the  form  of  sealing  of  illegal bore-wells,  seizure  of  boring  machines,  disconnection  of  power  to  energized  bore-wells  and imposition of penalty by the Judicial Magistrate having local jurisdiction.

(d) Central Government has taken several steps for promoting rain water harvesting measures in various parts of the Country which are as under:

- The National Water Policy (2012) formulated by Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia, advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures. The National Water Policy (2012) has been forwarded to all State Governments/ UTs and concerned Ministries/ Departments of Central Government for adoption of the policy.

- This  Ministry  has  circulated  a  Model  Bill  to  all  the  States/UTs  to  enable  them  to  enact suitable  ground  water  legislation  for  its  regulation  and  development,  which  includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Model bill.
- CGWB  has  also  prepared  a  conceptual  document  entitled  'Master  Plan  for  Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India' during 2013, involving ground water scientists/experts. The  Master  Plan  envisages  construction  of  1.11  crore  rain  water  harvesting  and  artificial recharge structures in the Country at an estimated cost of Rs. 79,178 Crores to harness 85 BCM (Billion Cubic Metre) of water.  The augmented ground water resources will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purpose.  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  area  for  MGNREGA  works  and  about  2/3 rd of  the expenditure is directly related to construction of water harvesting structures.
- Besides,  Central  Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA)  has  issued  directives  to  the  Chief Secretaries of all States and the Administrators of all UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial  recharge  to  ground  water  /  rain  water  harvesting.    30  States/UTs  have  made  rain water harvesting mandatory by enacting laws or by formulating rules & regulations or by including provisions in Building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
- CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme during XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation.  The Aquifer Mapping is aimed at  delineating  aquifer  disposition  and  their  characterization  for  preparation  of  aquifer/area specific ground water management plans.  These management plans will be shared with the respective State Governments for taking appropriate corrective measures.
- CGWB has been organizing mass awareness programmes in the Country  to promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.

***

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.181  due for  reply  on 10.03.2016 regarding 'Rain Water Harvesting'

## State-wise details of Action Taken on complaints received regarding illegal extraction of ground water by digging of bore-wells during last three years (2013-15)

| Sl. No.   | States/ UTs    |   No. of cases | Action taken on Complaint                                                                                                                                                                          |
|-----------|----------------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh |              1 | • CGWA referred to concerned Deputy Commissioners for action. • Action taken report awaited.                                                                                                       |
| 2.        | Gujarat        |              1 | • CGWA referred to concerned Deputy Commissioner for action. • Action taken report awaited.                                                                                                        |
| 3.        | Haryana        |            358 | All illegal bore-wells sealed and drilling rigs seized by Office of Deputy Commissioner                                                                                                            |
| 4..       | Karnataka      |             10 | Penalty imposed by the Office of Deputy Commissioner/ Collector                                                                                                                                    |
| 5.        | NCT Delhi      |            611 | • Cases of violations found in 526 cases. • In rest of the cases, no violation was detected. • In case of violations, Bore-wells sealed by Deputy Commissioner / penalty imposed by the Magistrate |
| 6.        | Rajasthan      |            120 | • All illegal bore-wells sealed and drilling rigs seized by concerned District Collector. • 39 cases pending in Court.                                                                             |
| 7.        | Tamil Nadu     |              4 | CGWA referred to concerned District Collector for action. Action taken report awaited.                                                                                                             |
| 8.        | Telangana      |              2 | • CGWA referred to concerned Deputy Commissioner for action. • Action taken report awaited.                                                                                                        |
| 9.        | Uttar Pradesh  |              2 | • Referred to concerned Deputy Commissioner for action. • Action taken report awaited.                                                                                                             |