(a) whether many cities in Tamil Nadu are expected to have zero groundwater soon;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to protect groundwater in Tamil Nadu;
(c) the reasons for rapid depletion of groundwater in the country; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to give long term solution to the sustainable groundwater level?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) No, Sir.
(b) to (d) Ground water levels in various parts of the Country are declining because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization & urbanization etc.
Water being a State subject, efforts to conserve and manage ground water including quality issues is primarily States’ responsibility. Among other initiatives, Government of Tamil Nadu has launched the ‘Kudimaramath’ water scheme for constructing and maintaining water bodies by the local communities.
Hon’ble Prime Minister has written a letter to all sarpanchs on 08.06.2019 regarding the importance of water conservation and harvesting and exhorted them to adopt all appropriate measures to make water conservation a mass movement.
Government of India has launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan which is a time bound campaign with a mission mode approach intended to improve water availability including ground water conditions in the water stressed blocks.
Other steps taken by the Central Government to control ground water depletion are at the following URL: http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_depletion_Jun2019.pdf.
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