Question : Depleting Ground Water Level in Agra region

(a) whether the Government is aware that the level of ground water in Agra region including Fatehpur Sikri is depleting fast and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of initiatives taken by the Government for creating check dams upon seasonal rivers with a view to increase ground water level besides creation of new water bodies in the said region;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to rejuvenate and to ensure environmental flow in the rivers of this region; and
(d) the details of the initiatives taken to create the ravines of river Yamuna and Chambal in Agra region into water bodies to store the excess water of rainy season?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a) As per the information received from the Ground Water Department (GWD), Uttar Pradesh the water level data collected by GWD during Pre-monsoon 2020 when compared with decadal average (2010-2019) indicates that about 94% of the wells monitored have registered decline in ground water levels. Decline of more than 4 m has been observed in all the blocks except Achhanera, Akola and Jaitpur Kalan. Details in this regard is given in Annexure.
(b) Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management including conservation and water harvesting in the Country is primarily States’ responsibility. However, the important measures taken by the Central Government for conservation, management of ground water and effective implementation of rain water harvesting in the country are available at the following URL:
http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_depletion_Feb2021.pdf.

A number of States have done notable work in the field of water management/conservation. Of these, mention can be made of ‘Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan’ in Rajasthan, ‘Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan’ in Gujarat, ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in Telangana, ''Neeru Chettu’ in Andhra Pradesh, ‘Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao’ in Punjab, ‘Jal Hi Jeevan’ in Haryana and “Rajya Bhujal Sanrakshan Mission & Khet Talab Yojana” in Uttar Pradesh among others.

Contd…P/2

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Central Government supports construction of water harvesting and conservation works primarily through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Creation of check dams is one of the permissible activities under the said scheme. As per information collected from MIS system maintained by Ministry of Rural Development (MGNREGA), the number of water conservation and water harvesting works including expenditure for ongoing and completed works in respect of blocks (including Fatehpur Sikri) falling under Agra during 2020-21 (as on 23.03.2021) is given below.

Financial Year Ongoing works Completed works
No of works Expenditure
(in Lakhs) No of works Expenditure
(in Lakhs)
2020-21 791 903.80 183 81.29


Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including estimated cost. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 190 Check Dam/ Nala Bunding/ Cement Plug in the Agra District.

(c) For rejuvenation of river Yamuna in Agra region, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has taken up “Agra Sewerage Scheme” for creation of additional 178.60 Million Litre per Day (MLD) capacity Sewage Treatment Plant at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 842.25 Crore.

(d) No such specific information in this regard is available in the Ministry

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ANNEXURE

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Unstarred Question No. 5039 to be answered in Lok Sabha on 25.03.2021 regarding “Depleting Ground Water Level in Agra Region.

Agra district Ground Water Level fluctuation with Mean Pre-Monsoon (2010-2019) and Pre-monsoon 2020

S. No. Block No. of wells analyzed Rise Fall Rise Fall
0-2 m 2-4 m >4 m 0-2 m 2-4 m >4 m No % No %
No % No % No % No % No % No %
1 Achhanera 10 1 10.0 0 0.0 1 10 7 70.0 1 10.0 0 0.0 2 20.0 8 80.0
2 Akola 4 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 4 100.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 4 100.0
3 Bah 9 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 2 22.2 6 66.7 1 11.1 0 0.0 9 100.0
4 Barauli ahir 3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 33.3 1 33.3 1 33.3 0 0.0 3 100.0
5 Bichpuri 2 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 50.0 0 0.0 1 50.0 0 0.0 2 100.0
6 Etmadpur 6 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 16.7 3 50.0 2 33.3 0 0.0 6 100.0
7 Fatehabad 10 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 3 30.0 1 10.0 6 60.0 0 0.0 10 100.0
8 Fatehpur sikri 6 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 3 50.0 1 16.7 2 33.3 0 0.0 6 100.0
9 Jagner 3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 33.3 1 33.3 1 33.3 0 0.0 3 100.0
10 Jaitpur kalan 4 0 0.0 1 25.0 1 25 2 50.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 2 50.0 2 50.0
11 Khairagarh 6 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 16.7 3 50.0 2 33.3 0 0.0 6 100.0
12 Khandauli 4 0 0.0 1 25.0 1 25 0 0.0 0 0.0 2 50.0 2 50.0 2 50.0
13 Pinahat 10 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 4 40.0 3 30.0 3 30.0 0 0.0 10 100.0
14 Saiyan 10 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 1 10.0 9 90.0 0 0.0 10 100.0
15 Shamshabad 10 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 1 10.0 1 10.0 8 80.0 0 0.0 10 100.0
Total 97 1 1 2 2 3 3 31 32 22 23 38 39 6 6 91 94