Lok Sabha Question No. 780 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-28
Subject: Water Crisis
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, ASHWINI KUMAR, PREM DAS RAI, DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 780

ANSWERED ON 28.04.2016

## WATER CRISIS

780.

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL

SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV

SHRI PREM DAS RAI

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE

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

- (a) the State/UT-wise per capita availability of water at present and its expected availability by 2025;
- (b)  whether  India  is  set  to  become  water  scarce  country  very  shortly,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether the Government is aware of the report published by UK based Water Aid Organisation on water crisis in India, if so, the details and highlights thereof along with action taken thereon; and (d) the concrete plan chalked out by the Government to meet the upcoming water crisis in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) & (b) The average annual per capita water availability in the country, as per 2011 census, was 1545 cubic meters; it is estimated to go down to 1340 cubic meters by the year 2025. State wise details of per capita water availability in the country are not maintained by the Central Government.

The availability of water resources is limited, but demand for water in the country is increasing due to increasing  population,  industrialization,  urbanization  and  changing  lifestyle.    As  a  result  water  has become a relatively scarce resource in some areas of the country. A per-capita water availability of less than 1700 cubic meters is considered as water stressed condition, whereas per-capita water availability below 1000 cubic meters is considered as a water scarcity condition.

(c)  No,  Madam.    This  Ministry  is  not  aware  of  the  report  published  by  U.K.  based  Water  Aid Organisation on water crisis in India.

(d) Several measures for meeting water crisis through augmenting, conserving and using water resources more efficiently are undertaken by the State Governments.  This Ministry provides technical and financial

assistance  to  the  State  Governments  in  this  regard  through  various  schemes  and  programmes  viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, Scheme for Repair, Renovation & Restoration of Water-bodies etc.

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.

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  such structures.

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.

The  National  Water  Policy,  2012  has  been  formulated  which  has  made  several  recommendations  for conservation, development and improved management of water resources in the country.

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.

Recycle  and  reuse  of  water,  after  treatment  to  specified  standards  as  well  as  rainwater  harvesting  and artificial  recharge  are  being  incentivized  through  various  initiatives,  programmes/  schemes  of  the Government.

Improved water  use  efficiency  in  different  sectors  such  as  in  irrigation  (through  micro-irrigation,  e.g., drip, sprinkler etc.), industry and households is being encouraged through various initiatives, programmes/ schemes of the Government.

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

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