Lok Sabha Question No. 693 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-21
Subject: NGT Directions for Rain water Harvesting
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 693 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2016

## NGT DIRECTIONS FOR RAIN WATER HARVESTING

## †693. SHRI NANA PATOLE

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

(a) whether NGT has directed Central and State Governments to frame uniform rules and laws in regard to rain water harvesting;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  uniform  pattern  of  rules  framed  regarding  rainwater  harvesting  at  all Government buildings and hotels, hospitals, malls and metro-stations etc;

(c)  the  details  of  the  scheme  formulated  by  the  Government  for  construction  of  lakhs  of  ponds  in  the country to arrest the constantly falling ground water level and conservation of water through rain water harvesting; and

(d) the details regarding laid down procedure, connecting the work repair and development of ponds with MGNREGA and stipulated time limit for the construction of such water bodies?

## ANSWER

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

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) & (b) NGT has issued  directives  to  Central  Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA),  Delhi  Jal  Board (DJB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to fix a uniform procedure, prescribe a format as well as proper design for the rain water harvesting system to be installed by the hotels, hospitals and malls in NCT of Delhi.  Standard Design for Rain Water Harvesting has been evolved and placed on websites of DJB and CGWB for the benefit of hotels, hospitals, malls,  Group  Housing  Societies  and  Government Buildings in NCT of Delhi.

(c)  &  (d) Special  focus  is  given  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act (MGNREGA) for water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water. During the  period  of  2012-16,  a  total  of  16,36,355  Water  Conservation  and  Recharge  structures  including renovation of Traditional Water Bodies have been completed.  In addition, priority has been given for construction of farm ponds in the year 2016-17 to harvest rain water.  Ministry of Rural Development has kept a target to construct 8,82,325 farm ponds under MGNREGA during the FY 2016-17.

The details regarding the laid-down procedures for the construction of farm ponds, are given as under :

1. Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has issued suggested drawing and estimate for construction of farm ponds under MGNREGA.
2. MoRD has imparted training to 260 engineers of State Technical Resource Teams from 31 States and UTs on works under MGNREGA including construction of farm ponds.
3. MoRD is regularly monitoring and reviewing progress of construction of farm ponds in the Country though Video conference meetings, Performance Review Committee meetings, Monitoring visits and reports on MGNREGA Management Information System.
4. State Governments have been given freedom to lay-down the procedures to reach the targets of farm pond construction in their States.