Lok Sabha Question No. 193 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-10
Subject: Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *193

ANSWERED ON 10.03.2016

## AQUIFER MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

## *193. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

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

- (a) whether the Government has implemented Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme in  the  country  including  Uttar  Pradesh  in  a  scientific  manner  by  taking  level, quality and quantity of water into consideration, if so, the details and salient features thereof;
- (b) the financial and physical progress made thereunder so far, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether local communities are being made aware about the limited quantity and specific quality of water resources and urging them to conserve water; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the further steps taken/to be taken towards proper utilization of water resources?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (Prof. SANWAR LAL JAT):

- (a) to (d)       A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART

QUESTION  NO.  †*193

REGARDING

TO  BE

S

(a)  TO  (d)  OF  STARRED

ANSWERED  ON  10.03.2016  IN  LOK  SABHA

'AQUIFER MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME' ASKED

BY SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL, HON'BLE M.P, LOK SABHA:

(a)

& (b)

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Water Resources, River

Development & Ganga Rejuvenation is implementing a Scheme for 'Ground Water Management

& Regulation' in which aquifer mapping is a component, during the XII Plan Period.   The aim of the  Scheme  is  to  delineate

aquifer disposition

on  a scale  of  1:50000  in  3D  and  their

characterization along with area specific ground water management plans.  An area of 8.89 lakh sq.  km  has  been  targeted  to  be  covered  during  the  XII  Plan  period,  which  includes  Over-

Exploited, Critical and Semi-critical areas prioritized for mapping in this phase.

An area of 116347 sq. km, out of which, 17893 sq.km area falls under the State of Uttar Pradesh has been covered under the aquifer mapping programme and an expenditure of Rs. 410.49 crore

has been incurred by the CGWB till January 2016.

(c) & (d)

On completion of this programme information on aquifer mapping will be shared with the respective State Governments for ground water management with community involvement,

wherein,  details  on  aquifer-wise  ground  water  quantity  and  quality  will  be  shared  with stakeholders.    The  prepared  Management  Plans  will  include  strategies  and  measures  to  be

adopted for sustainability of ground water resources including its proper utilization.

Central Government has undertaken several steps towards proper utilization of water resources:

- The  National  Water  Policy  (2012)  formulated  by  this  Ministry,  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 (2005) to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for its regulation and development which includes

Contd…p/2

provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Model Bill.  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  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 Crore 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  purposes.    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.
- CGWB has been organizing  mass  awareness  programmes  in  the  country  to  promote  rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.