Lok Sabha Question No. 847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-21
Subject: Depletion in Ground Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 847

ANSWERED ON 21.07.2016

## DEPLETION IN GROUND WATER

## 847. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR

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

- (a)  whether  a  study  conducted  jointly  by  ASSOCHAM  and  Skyment  Weather  Services  has warned that India is drying out which may lead to Latur like water crisis in many parts of the country, if so, the salient features of the study;
- (b) the reaction of the Government thereon;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to take any concrete steps to conserve water and also to check its wasteful use, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the future course of action envisaged by the Government to tackle the situation?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b) ASSOCHAM and  Skyment  Weather  Services  have  jointly  carried  out  a  study  on 'Managing Climate Risk in Agriculture', wherein, it was pointed out that there is an increase in the mean annual air temperature in many regions of the Country.  As per the report, prominent increase has been observed in the number of hot days and daily temperatures from 1951 to 2013. It has also been stated that overall temperature has been increasing while the all India Monsoon rainfall has been decreasing from 1960 onwards.

To combat the changing climatic conditions, Government is actively promoting the concept of water conservation, artificial recharge and rainwater harvesting.

(c) & (d) Central Government has taken following measures to conserve ground water and check its wasteful use:

- i. 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, recycle and reuse of water and  other management measures.    The  National  Water  Policy  (2012)  has  been  forwarded  to  all  State/UT Governments for adoption.

- ii. '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.
- iii. 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.
- iv. 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.
- v. Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  has  undertaken  the  Demonstrative  Rain Water Harvesting and Artificial Recharge Projects during XI Plan under the Scheme of 'Ground Water Management & Regulation', in priority areas.
- vi. CGWB has  taken  up  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  programme  during  XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation.
- vii. 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.