Question : Extraction of Ground Water

(a) whether the Government is aware that ground water is extracted more for agriculture than domestic and industrial purposes annually and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the misuse of ground water is on rise due to absence of regulation of extraction of ground water and coordination among competitive users;

(c) if so, the facts thereof; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to spread awareness among the States in this regard and the details of action taken to punish the frequent offenders?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) As per the latest assessment of ground water resources of the Country, jointly carried out by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the State Ground Water Departments, as on March, 2013, the annual ground water draft is 253 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM), out of which 228 BCM is for irrigation use and 25 BCM is for domestic and industrial use.

(b) & (c) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under ‘The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986’ for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the country has notified 162 areas for regulation of ground water development and management. Under the CGWA guidelines, in notified areas, no permission is accorded to extract ground water through any energized means for any purpose other than drinking water. However, for non-notified areas, ground water withdrawal by industries is regulated by means of guidelines/criteria as specified as CGWA.

As per the Model Bill to Regulate and Control the Development and Management of Ground Water’, 2005, the State Governments may establish State Ground Water Authority, which has the power to ‘Notify’ an area to regulate the extraction of ground water. So far, 15 States/UTs are regulating ground water extraction through ground water legislation.

(d) The Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR has launched ‘Jal Kranti Abhiyan’ (2015-16 to 2017-18) 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.

In addition, this Ministry under IEC (Information, Education & Communication) activity is taking necessary steps for creating mass awareness on water conservation through various activities such as Workshops, Trainings, organizing Bhujal Manthan, Essay Competitions on Water Conservation and Painting Competition on Water Conservation, launching Mobile Apps on ground water and rainwater harvesting.
CGWA is taking steps for compliance by issuing notices to defaulters of No Objection Certificate holders. Further, State are also taking action in the form of sealing of illegal borewells, seizure of boring machines, disconnection of power to energized borewells, etc.
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