New Delhi, 13 December 2021: Though Water is a State subject, Central Government has taken a number of important measures for conservation, management of ground water, effective implementation of rain water harvesting including increasing the groundwater level in the country, which can be seen at URL:http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_ depletion_Feb2021.pdf. Some of the important initiatives in this regard are also given at Annexure.
In addition, a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting such as ‘Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan’ in Rajasthan, ‘Jalyukt Shibar’ in Maharashtra, ‘Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan’ in Gujarat, ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in Telangana, Neeru Chettu’ in Andhra Pradesh, ‘Jal Jeevan Hariyali’ in Bihar, ‘Jal Hi Jeevan’ in Haryana, and ‘Kudimaramath scheme’ in Tamil Nadu.
Central Government is promoting conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water for various purposes including agriculture and drinking water etc through various policy initiatives/schemes. National Water Policy (NWP) (2012) advocates for a number of policy interventions for sustainable management of water resources including efficient use of groundwater and surface water in the country. The NWP can be accessed at URL: http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/NWP2012Eng6495132651_1.pdf.
Further, groundwater guidelines (with pan-India applicability) issued on 24.09.2020 by this Department for regulation and control of ground water extraction in the country advocates for use of treated sewage water for purposes other than drinking water.
In addition, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with component Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was launched in 2015-16 with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc. Major and Medium Irrigation Projects through surface water sources at various places have been taken up under this scheme.
Further, to harvest the rain fall effectively a number of initiatives have been taken up by the Central Government. Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) was launched in 2019, to improve water availability by harvesting the rainfall effectively in the water stressed blocks of 256 districts in India. Further, “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA:CTR) have been taken up during 22nd March 2021 to 30th November 2021 in the country. The campaign was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 22 March 2021. Also a Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL) has been circulated to all States/UTs which has the provisions for Rainwater Harvesting and it has already been adopted by 32 States/UTs.
In addition, to harvest the rainfall in the country in a scientific manner, Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by CGWB in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country.
This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
ANNEXURE
Important initiatives on management of groundwater resources
Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019, a time bound campaign with a mission mode approach intended to improve water availability including ground water conditions in the water stressed blocks of 256 districts in India. In this regard, teams of officers from Central Government along-with technical officers from Ministry of Jal Shakti were deputed to visit water stressed districts and to work in close collaboration with district level officials to undertake suitable interventions.
In addition, Ministry of Jal Shakti has taken up the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA:CTR) with the theme “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls” to cover all the blocks of all districts (rural as well as urban areas) across the country during 22nd March 2021 to 30th November 2021. The campaign was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 22 March 2021.
Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR (DoWR, RD & GR) is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs.6,000 crore Central Sector Scheme, for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation. Atal Jal is being implemented in 81 water stressed districts and 8,774 Gram Panchayats of seven States viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in consultation with States/UTs, has prepared ‘Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater – 2020’. The Master Plan – 2020 is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country. The Master Plan – 2020 envisages construction of about 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the country to harness 185 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM).
National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM) is being implemented by CGWB as part of Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWM & R) Scheme, a Central Sector scheme. NAQUIM envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of groundwater resources in the country. NAQUIM outputs are shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions.
Government of India generally supports artificial groundwater recharge/water harvesting works in the country through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development component (PMKSY-WDC), ‘Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies schemes’ a component of PMKSY.