Lok Sabha Question No. 852 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-21
Subject: Ground Water in Shekhawati Area
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 852 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2016

## GROUND WATER IN SHEKHAWATI AREA

## †852.        SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI

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

(a) whether the ground water level in Rajasthan particularly in Shekhawati area is depleting very fast;

(b) if so, the facts thereof;

(c) whether the Government is implementing any action plan to arrest decreasing ground water level; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the amount released during the last three years for the purpose along with current year?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b) Central  Ground Water  Board  (CGWB)  carries  out  ground  water  monitoring on regional scale  through  a  network of  observation wells  in  the  Country  including  Rajasthan. Ground  water level  data  for  pre-monsoon   2016,   compared   with   decadal   mean  of  premonsoon   (2006-2015)   in respect  of  the  State  of  Rajasthan,  indicates  that  out  of  total  wells analyzed,  around  58%  wells  show decline  in ground  water  level  and 42%  wells show  rise in water  level.   The  Shekhawati  area,  falling in  Northern  Rajasthan  comprises  of  four  districts viz.  Churu,  Jhunjhunu, Nagaur  and  Sikar.      The  area, particularly Sikar and Jhunjunu districts  are  showing    decline  in  ground    water  level  of  more  than  4  metre  below  ground level, during pre-monsoon  2016, when compared with decadal average of pre-monsoon (20062015).

(c)   Several  measures  have  been  taken  up  by  the  Central  Government  to  arrest  decreasing ground water levels in the Country:

- "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.
- 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.
- MoWR, 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.
- 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.
- CGWB  has  taken  up  Aquifer  Mapping  and  Management  programme  during  XII Plan,  under the scheme of Ground  Water Management  and Regulation.   The Aquifer Mapping  is  aimed  at  delineating  aquifer  disposition  and  their  characterization for preparation  of aquifer/area specific ground  water management  plans.
- MoWR, RD & GR 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.

(d) During XI Plan, Demonstrative Artificial  Recharge  Projects  were taken up under Central Sector  Scheme  "Ground    Water    Management    &  Regulation".  Under    the  scheme,    36 artificial    recharge  projects  were  sanctioned  for  Rajasthan,  out  of  which,  6  projects  were sanctioned particularly  for Shekhawati area (Nagaur  districts).

During  XII  plan,  in  the  years  20  2-13,   2013-14   & 2014-15,  Rs.  10.28  lakh,  Rs.38.80 lakh  and Rs.58.62  lakh  have  been  released  as  spill  over  for  the  State  of  Rajasthan, under the  scheme. No funds have  been  released  during  2015-16   and  current   year. The scheme on  Artificial   Recharge project has been discontinued  during the XII Plan period.

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