(a) the steps taken by the Government to tackle the water crisis in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any plan to create awareness amongst people about water conservation; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) to (d) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources including tackling of water crisis are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes. Central Government has taken various steps to tackle water crisis in the country.
Ministry of Jal Shakti has been created by the Government of India, integrating the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, with an aim to deal with the issues relating to water in a holistic and integrated manner.
Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) - a campaign for water conservation and water security. During the campaign, officers, groundwater experts and scientists from the Government of India worked together with State and District officials in India’s most water-stressed districts for water conservation and water resource management. JSA aims at making water conservation a ‘Jan Andolan’ through asset creation and communication campaign.
Central Government has formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development which envisages transfer of water from water surplus basins to water deficit basins to improve availability of water.
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Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is under implementation 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. Under PMKSY-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) component, 99 on-going Major/Medium irrigation projects having ultimate irrigation potential of 76.03 lakh hectares have been prioritized in consultation with States for completion in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works.
Department of Water Resources, RD & GR is making efforts to create awareness amongst people about water conservation. Social Media platforms are actively engaged in promoting the cause of water conservation. Story telling episodes based on water conservation were broadcast on radio channels. A competition named - "Water Heroes - Share your stories" is currently going on to create consciousness on water conservation. National Water Awards have been initiated to recognize efforts made in the field for water conservation/management.
National Water Mission (NWM) has initiated a seminar series in March, 2019 - “Water Talk” - to promote dialogue and information sharing among participants on variety of water related topics. The “Water Talk” is intended to create awareness, build capacities of stakeholders and to encourage people to become active participants in the conservation and saving of water. NWM is also conducting regional conventions of Water Users Associations with the overall objective of water conservation, water use efficiency in irrigation sector, etc. NWM has launched a campaign ‘Sahi Fasal’ to nudge farmers to go for crops which use less water and efficiently also. Under this campaign workshops were held recently at Amritsar and Delhi on ‘Increasing Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture’ with the theme ‘Sahi Fasal’.
Government of India launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) on 25th June, 2015 in select 500 cities across the country with focus on development of basic civic amenities in the Mission cities. Under the water supply component of the Mission, projects related to rain water harvesting, rejuvenation of water bodies specifically for drinking water supply, recharging of ground water, etc., can be taken up by the States/UTs to enhance water supply in the Mission cities.
The Government of India has launched Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which aims at providing functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024 at the service level of 55 litre per capita per day. This Mission will focus on integrated demand and supply side management of water at the local level, including creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and management of household wastewater for reuse in agriculture.
Some initiatives/measures taken by Central Government to control ground water depletion and promote rain water harvesting / conservation are available at the URL:
http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_depletion_Jun2019.pdf
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