Lok Sabha Question No. 1758 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-30
Subject: Impact of Ground Water Extraction
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1758

## ANSWERED ON 30.7.2015

## 

**Impact of Ground Water Extraction**

1758	SHRI S.P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA

DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE

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

(a) whether water crisis is increasing in several areas of the country due to rampant extraction of ground water and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to bring a new policy to ensure best practice for water usage in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to introduce a water regulation and pricing mechanism and if so, the details thereof and the time-frame for the same;

(d) whether the Government has advised States to prepare a model law to prevent the extraction of ground water; and

(e) if so, the States where the law has been formulated and the present status related to this process in the States where the law has not been formulated?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  Ground water is continuously being exploited due to growth in population, increased industrialization and irrigation as a result of which, ground water levels in various parts of the Country are declining. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Ground Water Organizations jointly assess replenishable ground water resources of the Country periodically.  As per the latest assessment, the total annual replenishable ground water resource in the country is around 433 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) and net annual ground water availability is 398 BCM.  The stage of ground water development in the Country has been assessed as 62%.  State/UT-wise details are given at **Annexure-I.** Out of 6607 assessment units (Firkas/ Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas/ Districts) in the Country, 1071 units in 16 States and 2 UTs including Rajasthan have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’.

Contd…p/2

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(b)  The National Water Policy (2012),  has been formulated by Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR which, inter-alia, advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.  The National Water Policy (2012) has been forwarded to all State/UT Governments and concerned Ministries/ Departments of Central Government for appropriate action.  A National Water Mission has also been set up to, inter-alia, promote conservation of water resources.

(c)   The National Water Policy, 2012 has, inter-alia, following recommendations relating to water regulation and pricing:-

(i)  Pricing of water should ensure its efficient use and reward conservation. Equitable access to water for all and its fair pricing, for drinking and other uses such as sanitation, agricultural and industrial, should be arrived at through independent statutory Water Regulatory Authority, set up by each State, after wide ranging consultations with all stakeholders.

(ii)  In order to meet equity, efficiency and economic principles, the water charges should preferably / as a rule be determined on volumetric basis. Such charges should be reviewed periodically.

(iii)  Recycle and reuse of water, after treatment to specified standards, should also
be incentivized through a properly planned tariff system.

**(iv)** The principle of differential pricing may be retained for the pre-emptive uses of water for drinking and sanitation; and high priority allocation for ensuring food security and supporting livelihood for the poor. Available water, after meeting the above needs, should increasingly be subjected to allocation and pricing on economic principles so that water is not wasted in unnecessary uses and could be utilized more gainfully.

(d) & (e)   Ministry of Water Resources, RD &GR 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.  Further, various 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.  Tamil Nadu Ground Water (Development and Management) Act, 2003 has been repealed by the State Government of Tamil Nadu through Ordinance No. 4 of 2013, dated 14.09.2013.  The status of adoption of Model Bill by States/UTs is given at **Annexure-II.**

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**ANNEXURE – I**

Annexure referred in reply to **Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1758** to be answered on **30.07.2015** regarding **“Impact of Ground Water Extraction”**

**State-Wise Ground Water Resources Availability and Stage of Development (Assessment Year 2011)**

**BCM  Billion Cubic Metre**

| **S.No.**   | **States / Union Territories**   | **Total Annual Replenishable Ground Water Resource**   | **Net Annual Ground Water Availability**   | **Stage of Ground Water  Development**   |
|-------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| **1**       | **2**                            | **3**                                                  | **4**                                      | **5**                                    |
|             |                                  | **BCM/yr**                                             | **BCM/yr**                                 | **(%)**                                  |
| 1           | Andhra Pradesh                   | 20.7892                                                | 18.8828                                    | 37                                       |
| 2           | Telangana                        | 15.0983                                                | 13.6845                                    | 54.8                                     |
| 3           | Arunachal Pradesh                | 4.5100                                                 | 4.0600                                     | 0.08                                     |
| 4           | Assam                            | 28.5200                                                | 25.7900                                    | 14                                       |
| 5           | Bihar                            | 29.3350                                                | 26.8645                                    | 44                                       |
| 6           | Chhattisgarh                     | 12.4200                                                | 11.6300                                    | 35                                       |
| 7           | Delhi                            | 0.3105                                                 | 0.2871                                     | 137                                      |
| 8           | Goa                              | 0.2424                                                 | 0.1454                                     | 28                                       |
| 9           | Gujarat                          | 18.5686                                                | 17.5854                                    | 67                                       |
| 10          | Haryana                          | 10.7800                                                | 9.7900                                     | 133                                      |
| 11          | Himachal Pradesh                 | 0.5590                                                 | 0.5310                                     | 71                                       |
| 12          | Jammu & Kashmir                  | 4.2512                                                 | 3.8261                                     | 21                                       |
| 13          | Jharkhand                        | 6.3100                                                 | 5.7600                                     | 32                                       |
| 14          | Karnataka                        | 17.0266                                                | 14.8132                                    | 64                                       |
| 15          | Kerala                           | 6.6864                                                 | 6.0730                                     | 47                                       |
| 16          | Madhya Pradesh                   | 35.0406                                                | 33.2886                                    | 57                                       |
| 17          | Maharashtra                      | 33.9474                                                | 32.1509                                    | 53                                       |
| 18          | Manipur                          | 0.4401                                                 | 0.3961                                     | 1.02                                     |
| 19          | Meghalaya                        | 1.7805                                                 | 1.6034                                     | 0.08                                     |
| 20          | Mizoram                          | 0.0304                                                 | 0.0274                                     | 3.52                                     |
| 21          | Nagaland                         | 0.6159                                                 | 0.5543                                     | 6.13                                     |
| 22          | Odisha                           | 17.7768                                                | 16.6910                                    | 28                                       |
| 23          | Punjab                           | 22.5300                                                | 20.3200                                    | 172                                      |
| 24          | Rajasthan                        | 11.9414                                                | 10.8289                                    | 137                                      |
| 25          | Sikkim*                          | -                                                      | 0.0440                                     | 26                                       |
| 26          | Tamil Nadu                       | 21.5326                                                | 19.3793                                    | 77                                       |
| 27          | Tripura                          | 2.5866                                                 | 2.3580                                     | 7                                        |
| 28          | Uttar Pradesh                    | 77.1900                                                | 71.6600                                    | 74                                       |
| 29          | Uttarakhand                      | 2.0403                                                 | 1.9954                                     | 57                                       |
| 30          | West Bengal                      | 29.2511                                                | 26.5823                                    | 40                                       |
|             | **Total (States)**               | **432.1109**                                           | **397.6026**                               | **62**                                   |
|             | **Union Territories**            |                                                        |                                            |                                          |
| 1           | Andaman & Nicobar                | 0.3080                                                 | 0.2864                                     | 4.44                                     |
| 2           | Chandigarh                       | 0.0216                                                 | 0.0194                                     | 0                                        |
| 3           | Dadra & Nagar Haveli             | 0.0622                                                 | 0.0591                                     | 22                                       |
| 4           | Daman & Diu                      | 0.0181                                                 | 0.0169                                     | 97                                       |
| 5           | Lakshadweep                      | 0.0105                                                 | 0.0035                                     | 67                                       |
| 6           | Puducherry                       | 0.1893                                                 | 0.1703                                     | 90                                       |
|             | **Total (UTs)**                  | **0.6097**                                             | **0.5556**                                 | 36                                       |
|             | **Grand Total**                  | **432.7206**                                           | **398.1582**                               | **62**                                   |

***Note:** Net ground water availability in Sikkim has been estimated based on spring discharge and is not reflected in the corresponding column of total annual replenishable resource (column no.3).  This results in a difference of 0.044 BCM in the State Total and Grand Total.

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**ANNEXURE - II**

Annexure referred in reply to **Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1758** to be answered on **30.07.2015** regarding **“Impact of Ground Water Extraction”**

| **A: STATES WHERE LEGISLATION FOR REGULATION OF GROUND WATER DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ENACTED**   |                                                                                |                                                                                |                                                                                |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **S.No.**                                                                                     | **STATES/ UTs**                                                                | **S.No.**                                                                      | **STATES/ UTs**                                                                |
| 1.                                                                                            | Andhra Pradesh                                                                 | 8.                                                                             | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                |
| 2.                                                                                            | Assam                                                                          | 9.                                                                             | Karnataka                                                                      |
| 3.                                                                                            | Bihar                                                                          | 10.                                                                            | Kerala                                                                         |
| 4.                                                                                            | Chandigarh                                                                     | 11.                                                                            | Lakshadweep                                                                    |
| 5.                                                                                            | Dadra & Nagar Haveli                                                           | 12.                                                                            | Puducherry                                                                     |
| 6.                                                                                            | Goa                                                                            | 13.                                                                            | West Bengal                                                                    |
| 7.                                                                                            | Himachal Pradesh                                                               | 14                                                                             | Telangana                                                                      |
|                                                                                               |                                                                                | 15                                                                             | Maharashtra                                                                    |
|                                                                                               |                                                                                |                                                                                |                                                                                |
| **B:   STATES WHERE INITIATIVES TAKEN FOR ENACTMENT OF  MODEL BILL**                          |                                                                                |                                                                                |                                                                                |
| 1.                                                                                            | Andaman & Nicobar                                                              | 9.                                                                             | Meghalaya                                                                      |
| 2.                                                                                            | Chhattisgarh                                                                   | 10.                                                                            | Mizoram                                                                        |
| 3.                                                                                            | Daman & Diu                                                                    | 11.                                                                            | Odisha                                                                         |
| 4.                                                                                            | NCT Delhi#                                                                     | 12.                                                                            | Rajasthan                                                                      |
| 5.                                                                                            | Gujarat                                                                        | 13.                                                                            | Uttaranchal                                                                    |
| 6.                                                                                            | Haryana                                                                        | 14.                                                                            | Uttar Pradesh                                                                  |
| 7.                                                                                            | Jharkhand                                                                      | 15.                                                                            | Punjab                                                                         |
| 8.                                                                                            | Madhya Pradesh                                                                 |                                                                                |                                                                                |
| #Govt. of NCT Delhi is regulating ground water withdrawal through notification                | #Govt. of NCT Delhi is regulating ground water withdrawal through notification | #Govt. of NCT Delhi is regulating ground water withdrawal through notification | #Govt. of NCT Delhi is regulating ground water withdrawal through notification |
|                                                                                               |                                                                                |                                                                                |                                                                                |
| **C: STATES/UTs WHICH DO NOT FEEL THE NEED FOR ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION**                     |                                                                                |                                                                                |                                                                                |
| 1.                                                                                            | Arunachal Pradesh                                                              | Arunachal Pradesh                                                              | Arunachal Pradesh                                                              |
| 2.                                                                                            | Manipur                                                                        | Manipur                                                                        | Manipur                                                                        |
| 3.                                                                                            | Nagaland                                                                       | Nagaland                                                                       | Nagaland                                                                       |
| 4.                                                                                            | Sikkim                                                                         | Sikkim                                                                         | Sikkim                                                                         |
| 5.                                                                                            | Tripura                                                                        | Tripura                                                                        | Tripura                                                                        |

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