(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item captioned `Rain water harvesting can slak India`s thirst` appearing in the `Business Standard` dated January 11, 2000;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein; and
(c) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this direction ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES (SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)
(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The Government has seen the news-item which
appeared in a section of the Press under the caption `Rain water
harvesting can slake India`s thirst`. The news-item refers to
the usefulness of rain water harvesting for drinking and
irrigation purposes specially in the drought prone areas. It is
also refers to the public`s contribution in promoting the rain
water harvesting.
(c) The steps taken by the Government to promote rain water
harvesting include -
(i). Implementation of a Central Sector Scheme on studies on
artificial recharge to ground water. Under the
scheme, experimental studies to harvest rain water are
being carried out in the States of Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, West
Bengal, NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Chandigarh.
(ii) Circulation of a `Manual on Artificial Recharge of Ground
Water` and `Guide on Artificial Recharge` to the States/Union
Territories to enable them to formulate area specific artificial
recharge schemes to harvest rain water.
(iii) Organising mass awareness programmes.