Lok Sabha Question No. 909 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-21
Subject: Decrease in Ground Water Level
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: VASANTHI M., RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE, B.N. CHANDRAPPA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUDHEER GUPTA, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH, NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, RAJENDRA AGRAWAL, K. KAMARAAJ

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 909

ANSWERED ON 21.07.2016

## DECREASE IN GROUND WATER LEVEL

| 909.   | SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.    | SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE   |
|--------|-------------------------|-----------------------------|
|        | SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA    | SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN       |
|        | SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA      | SHRI D.K. SURESH            |
|        | SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL | SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO    |
|        | SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL   | DR. K. KAMARAJ              |

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

(a) whether the quantity and quality of ground water has decreased in most parts of the country and pollution indicators have gone beyond the maximum limit prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standards;

- (b) if so, the details of ground water contamination indicators, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has worked with any State/UT Government to prepare plan/programme to provide Potable drinking water to all the people of villages and cities, where ground water is found contaminated;
- (d) if so, the short term and long term steps taken by the Government to ensure that the entire population gets safe water for use;
- (e)  the  details  of  the  measures  the  Government  has  taken/proposes  to  take  to  increase  the efficient/optimal usage of water in domestic as well as industrial sectors and the outcome of the said measures on the water availability in the country; and

(f) whether the Government has taken steps to implement any scheme for Artificial Recharge to ground water in India, if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated for the purpose and the status of their utilization?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Ground Water Organizations jointly assess  replenishable  ground  water  resources  of  the  Country  periodically.    As  per  the  last  two assessments, carried out during the  year 2009  and 2011, the total annual replenishable  ground water  resource  in  the  Country  is  around  431  Billion  Cubic  Metres  (BCM)  and  433  BCM

respectively.  The figures indicate that there is no significant change in quantity of replenishable ground water in most parts of the Country.

Ground  water  quality  data  generated  by  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  indicates  that ground  water  has  concentration  higher  than  the  norms,  prescribed  by  the  Bureau  of  Indian Standards, in various parts of the Country, as per the following details :

|   Sl. No. | Contamination Pollution Hazard   |   No. of States/UTs | Sl. No.   | Contamination & Pollution Hazard       | No. of States/UTs   |
|-----------|----------------------------------|---------------------|-----------|----------------------------------------|---------------------|
|         1 | Arsenic                          |                  10 | 4.        | Iron                                   | 26                  |
|         2 | Fluoride                         |                  20 | 5.        | Heavy Metals (Lead, Chromium &Cadmium) | 15                  |
|         3 | Nitrate                          |                  21 |           |                                        |                     |

(c)  &  (d) Under the scheme of National Rural  Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) of the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (MoDWS), 20% of the allocated funds are earmarked for  water  quality  problems.    Further,  the  States  may  also  utilize  up  to  67%  of  funds  released under  NRDWP  for  improving  water  quality  of  ground  and  surface  water.    As  a  long  term measure, MoDWS has advised all the State  Governments to provide piped water supply from alternate safe sources to all water quality affected habitations with priority to cover Fluoride and Arsenic  affected  habitations.      Since  these  mega  schemes  take  a  long  gestation  period  for commissioning, the States have been advised to set up community water treatment plants in all the remaining Arsenic, Fluoride, Heavy Metals, toxic elements, pesticides and fertilizers affected habitations  as  a  short  term  measure  and  provide  8-10  lpcd  (litre  per  capita  per  day)  of  safe drinking water on or before March, 2017.

Further, CGWB carries out exploratory drilling to delineate contaminant free aquifer zones and successful  exploratory  wells  are  handed  over  to  the  concerned  State  Agencies  for  utilization. CGWB also  provides  technical  guidance  to  State  Agencies  in  tackling  the  problem  of  water quality.

(e) Measures taken up the Central Government to increase the efficient/optimal usage of water in the country:

- 'Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India' has been prepared, which envisages construction of different types of Artificial Recharge and Rainwater Harvesting structures in the Country.
- The 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 taken  up  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  programme  during  XII  Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation.
- This Ministry has also launched 'Jal Kranti Abhiyan' (2015-16 to 2017-18) 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.  'Jal Gram Yojana' component of 'Jal Kranti Abhiyan' envisages selection of two villages in every
- district,  preferably  'over-exploited'  or  facing  acute  water  scarcity,  as ' Jal  Grams'  to ensure optimum and sustainable utilization of water.
- Ministry  of  Urban  Development  in  its  Draft  Model  Building  Bye-Laws  (2015)  has incorporated a Chapter on Provision of Rain Water Harvesting.
- Special focus is given through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act  (MGNREGA)  for  water  conservation  and  water  harvesting  structures  to  augment ground water.  In addition, priority has been given for construction of farm ponds in the year 2016-17 to harvest rain water.
- Central  Ground  Water  Authority (CGWA)  has  issued  advisory  to States/  Union Territories and Ministry of Urban Development to take necessary measures for adopting rain water harvesting/ artificial recharge in all the Government buildings. 30 States/UTs have made rain water harvesting mandatory by enacting laws or by formulating rules & regulations or by including suitable provisions in Building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
- CGWA issues 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) for withdrawal of ground water subject to implementation of ground water recharge measures as per the criteria given below :
- (f) During  XI  Plan,  Demonstrative  Artificial  Recharge  Projects  were  taken  up  under  Central Sector Scheme  'Ground Water Management  &  Regulation'. Under the scheme, 133 demonstrative  recharge  projects  costing  Rs.  99.87  crore  were  approved  for  construction  of recharge structures in various States/UTs with an anticipated annual recharge to ground water at about 55.20 MCM.  The scheme on Artificial Recharge project has been discontinued during the XII Plan period.  Till date, Rs. 92.70 crore has been released.

| Category of assessment unit based on ground water development   | Recharge measures to be adopted for Industries/infrastructure /mining units (Other than water intensive industries)   | Recharge measures to be adopted for water intensive industries viz packaged drinking water, soft drink industries, distilleries, breweries, paper, etc   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Safe                                                            | Recharge measures has to be adopted in the project area                                                               | Recharge quantity needs to be 50% of ground water withdrawal                                                                                             |
| Semi- Critical                                                  | Recharge quantity needs to be 50% of ground water withdrawal                                                          | Recharge quantity needs to be 100% of ground water withdrawal                                                                                            |
| Critical                                                        | Recharge quantity needs to be 100% of ground water withdrawal                                                         | Recharge quantity needs to be 200% of ground water withdrawal                                                                                            |
| Over- Exploited                                                 | Recharge quantity needs to be 200% of ground water withdrawal                                                         | No permission for Industries under this category.                                                                                                        |

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