Lok Sabha Question No. 1897 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-05
Subject: Potentiality of Water for Agriculture/ Irrigation
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1897

ANSWERED ON 05.05.2016

## POTENTIALITY OF WATER FOR AGRICULTURE/ IRRIGATION

1897.               SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA

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

(a) the estimated potentiality of water for agriculture/irrigation by the year 2025; and

- (b) the measures taken by the Government to overcome the issues keeping the future challenges in mind?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The  National  Commission  for  Integrated  Water  Resources  Development  (NCIWRD)  had estimated, that the total water requirement for different purposes for the year 2025 would be about 843 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) including 611 BCM for irrigation.

The average annual water availability for the country has been assessed by Central Water Commission as 1869 billion cubic meters (BCM). However, due to topographic, hydrological and other constrains, the utilizable water has been estimated to be about 1123 BCM, comprising of 690 BCM surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water.

(b) Several  measures  for  meeting  the  present  and  future  demands  of  water  for  different  purposes, including  irrigation,  are  undertaken  by  the  respective  State  Governments  which,  inter-alia,  include conservation  of  water  resources  in  reservoirs  and  traditional  water  bodies,  rain  water  harvesting  and artificial  recharge  of  ground  water  etc.    This  Ministry  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  the State  Governments  in  this  regard  through  various  schemes  and  programmes  viz.  Accelerated  Irrigation Benefits Programme, Scheme for Repair, Renovation & Restoration of Water-bodies etc.

Central Government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in 2015-16 to improve access to irrigation and mitigate risk of farmers by providing assured irrigation. The PMKSY scheme under its various components envisages to enhance the irrigation facilities in an area of 28.5 lakh Hectares from 2015-16 to 2019-20.

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Central  Ground  Water  Board,  under  this  Ministry  has  prepared  a  conceptual  document  entitled  'Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India' during the year 2013 envisaging construction of 1.11  crore  Rainwater  Harvesting  and  Artificial  Recharge  structures  in  the  country  to  harness  85  BCM (Billion Cubic Meters) of water. The augmented ground water resources will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.

Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water constitute a special focus area for  MGNREGA  works  and  about  2/3 rd of  the  expenditure  is  directly  related  to  construction  of  such structures.

Central  Government  has  launched  the  National  Water  Mission  with  the  objective  of  conservation  of water,  minimizing  wastage  and  ensuring  its  more  equitable  distribution  both  across  and  within  States through integrated water resources development and management.

The  National  Water  Policy,  2012  has  been  formulated,  which  has  made  several  recommendations  for conservation, development and improved management of water resources in the country.

Jal Kranti Abhiyan (2015-16 to 2017-18) has been launched 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.

Recycle and reuse of water,  after  treatment  to  specified  standards  as  well  as  rainwater  harvesting  and artificial  recharge  are  being  incentivized  through  various  initiatives,  programmes/  schemes  of  the Government.

Improved water use efficiency in different  sectors  such  as  in  irrigation  (through  micro-irrigation,  e.g., drip, sprinkler etc.), industry and households is being encouraged through various initiatives, programmes/ schemes of the Government.

This Ministry has also formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) envisaging inter-basin transfer of water.  The implementation of NPP would give benefits of approximately 35 million hectare of additional irrigation  potential  and  34000  mega  watts  (MW)  hydro  power  generation  apart  from  the  incidental benefits  of  flood  moderation,  navigation,  drinking  and  industrial  water  supply,  fisheries,  salinity  and pollution control etc.

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