Lok Sabha Question No. 1866 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Revival of Traditional Lakes/Ponds/Reservoirs
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1866

ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025

## REVIVAL OF TRADITIONAL LAKES/PONDS/RESERVOIRS

## 1866.  Ms. S JOTHIMANI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the steps being taken to identify and renovate large water bodies at the district level;

(b) whether there is a structured survey or database to map water bodies in need of restoration and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the Government schemes or funding allocations for the revival of traditional lakes, ponds and reservoirs;

(d) the manner in which the Government is coordinating with the State Governments and local bodies to implement water body restoration projects;

(e)  the  way  in  which  technology  is  being  used  to  enhance  the  efficiency  and  sustainability  of  these renovation projects;

(f) the best practices, both national and international, being adopted by the Government for effective longterm restoration of water bodies; and

(g)  whether  there  are any  Public-Private  Partnership  (PPP)  initiatives  or  community  participation programmes for water body restoration and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b) Water being a state subject, it is for the State Governments concerned to take up the renovation projects  of  the  water  bodies  under  their  respective  jurisdiction,  as  per  their  priorities  and  resource availability. Details in this regard are also to be maintained by the State Governments themselves.

Under  the  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT),  States/UTs  are empowered to select, appraise, priorities and implement the projects within the broad framework of Mission guidelines.

Minor  Irrigation  (MI)  Stat.  Wing  under  the  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) implements the Centrally Sponsored "Irrigation Census" Scheme with 100% Central Assistance to States/UTs. The main objective of the Irrigation Census scheme is to build up a comprehensive and reliable database in the water resources sector for effective planning and policy making, especially for Minor Irrigation, Major and Medium irrigation, Water Bodies, and Springs.

Under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojna-  Har  Khet  Ko  Pani  (PMKSY-HKKP)  state government  may  propose  an  individual  or  a  cluster  of  community  owned  water  bodies,  including  water conservation  structure  impounding  water  even  for  transient  period,  for  various  uses  including  irrigation, with  sub-basin  approach.  All  water  bodies  approved  under  PMKSY-HKKP  to  be  given  a  unique  code number.  States  will  accordingly  undertake  census  of  these  water  bodies  and  get  complete  list  of  water bodies along with unique code in the first stage. Geo-tagging of each of the WBs included under the scheme is to be done and shared with Central Water Commission (CWC) Regional Office.

(c) & (d) Details of the Government schemes and funding allocations for the revival of traditional lakes, ponds and reservoirs are as under;

1. Government  of  India  is  providing  financial  assistance  to  the  State  Governments  under  Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies (RRR of WBs) component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)-Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP). Up to 31 st March 2025, central assistance (CA) amounting to Rs. 545.35 crore has been released to the states under the PMKSY-HKKP for restoration of water bodies.
2. Focused interventions under Jal Shakti Abhiyan taken up by the Government of India and the State Governments, inter alia, include renovation of traditional and other water bodies/ tanks, enumeration,  geo-tagging  &  making  inventory  of  all  water  bodies,  removal  of  encroachments  of tanks/ lakes, and de-silting of tanks. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain (JSA:CTR) 2025 was launched  with  the  theme  'Jal  Sanchay  Jan  Bhagidari:  Jan  Jagrukta  ki  Or'  emphasizing  deeper grassroots engagement inter sectoral convergence and innovative financing mechanism with special focus  on  148  districts  identified  by  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB).  Till  09.12.2025  more than  1.97  crore  water  related  works  have  been  taken  up  across  the  country  under  the  JSA:  CTR campaign and 712 Jal Shakti Kendra's (JSKs) have been set up across the country.
3. Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  implements  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) under which rejuvenation of water bodies and wells is one of the main components. Under AMRUT 2.0, 3031 water body rejuvenation projects worth Rs. 6270.51 crore have been approved so far.

(e) Technology is being extensively adopted by the Government to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and  long-term  sustainability  of  water  body  renovation  projects.  Modern  tools  such  as  geo-tagging,  GIS mapping, assignment of unique code numbers to each water body, making of inventory of all water bodies, preparation  of  scientific  plans  for  water  conservation  etc.  are  being  used  to  ensure  effective  long-term restoration of water bodies.

(f) The  Government has adopted several national and international best practices to ensure the effective and  long-term  restoration  of  water  bodies.  Restoration  works  follow  scientifically  established  norms,

including  hydrological  and  structural  assessment  of  water  bodies,  de-siltation  based  on  sediment  studies, catchment area treatment, strengthening of bunds and sluices, and integration of modern technologies such as Geo tagging, GIS mapping, base line survey etc.

(g) Public-Private  Partnership  (PPP)  initiatives  and  community  participation  programmes  are  being encouraged  and  supported  by  the  Government  of  India  for  the  restoration  of  water  bodies.  Community participation is an integral component of all restoration works centrally assisted under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  -  Har  Khet  Ko  Pani  (PMKSY-HKKP).  Water  User  Associations  (WUAs), Panchayati  Raj  Institutions,  and  local  community  groups  are  involved  in  planning,  execution,  and  postrestoration  management  of  water  bodies.  There  is  also  a  provision  for  involving  Non-Governmental Organizations  (NGOs)  in  the  planning,  implementation,  and  execution  of  the  project,  subject  to  the concurrence of the State Government.

The  AMRUT 2.0 Mission guidelines provides that 10% of funds allocated to million plus cities for projects  including  water  body  rejuvenation  projects,  can  be  taken  up  under  PPP  mode.  The  mission guidelines also promote community participation in water management. AMRUT Mitra Initiative has been launched  under  AMRUT  2.0  to  actively  involve  woman  self  Help  Groups  (SHG)  in  water  demand management, water quality testing and other water sectoral projects.

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