Lok Sabha Question No. 697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-21
Subject: Rain Water Harvesting
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, RANJANBEN BHATT, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 697

ANSWERED ON 21.07.2016

## RAIN WATER HARVESTING

## 697. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.

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

(a) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the average annual rainfall in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the quantum of rain water being harvested and utilized during the last five years, State/UTwise and year-wise;

(c) whether the Government proposes to implement any schemes for rain water harvesting, if so, the details thereof and the funds allocated under any such scheme so far along with its utilization; and

(d)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  popularize  the  positive  aspects  of  rain  water harvesting?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The India Meteorological Department prepares average annual rainfall data in the Country. As  per  the  data  maintained  by  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD),  the  all  India  average annual rainfall is 1187.6 mm .

(b) Data  on  quantum  of  rainwater  being  harvested  and  utilized  in  the  States/UT-wise  is  not maintained Centrally.

(c) During  XI  Plan,  Demonstrative  Artificial  Recharge  Projects  were  taken  up  under  Central Sector Scheme  'Ground  Water  Management  &  Regulation'. Under the scheme, 133 demonstrative  recharge  projects  costing  Rs.  99.87  crore  were  approved  for  construction  of recharge  structures  in  various  States/UTs  with  anticipated  annual  recharge  to  ground  water  at about 55.20 MCM.  The scheme on Artificial Recharge project has been discontinued during the XII Plan period.  Till date, Rs. 92.70 Crore has been released.  Rain water harvesting structures are  also  being  constructed  under  MGNREGA  and  watershed  component  of  Pradhan  Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

(d) Various steps being taken by the Government to popularize the positive aspects of rain water harvesting are as under :

- Under  the  Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  Scheme  of  Ministry  of Water Resources, RD & GR, awareness on ground water conservation, protection and augmentation is generated through print and electronic media.  Further, Mass Awareness Programmes,  Water  Management  Training  Programmes,  Painting  Competitions  on Water  Conservation,  Workshops,  'Hamara  Jal  Hamara  Jeevan'  Programmes,  'Bhu-jal Manthan', 'Jal Yatras', Exhibitions etc. are also organised to spread awareness towards water conservation, management and reducing wastage of water.
- Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR has also launched 'Jal Kranti Abhiyan (201516  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'.  An integrated water security plan, water conservation, water  management  and  allied  activities  are  envisaged  for  each  of  the  selected  'Jal Grams' to ensure optimum and sustainable utilisation of water.
- Considering  water  conservation  and  water  harvesting  structures  to  augment  ground water  as  a  special  focus  area  under  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) works wherein about 2/3rd of the expenditure is directly related to construction of water harvesting structures.
- '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.
- Central  Ground  Water  Authority  (CGWA)  has  issued  advisory  to  States/  Union Territories and Ministry of Urban Development to take necessary measures for adopting rain water harvesting/ artificial recharge in all the Government buildings. 30 States/UTs have made rain water harvesting mandatory by enacting laws or by formulating rules & regulations or by including suitable provisions in Building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
- 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.