(a) whether the Government has set up Expert Committee to
report upon various issues relating to Ground Water;
(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government thereon?
(a) whether the Government has set up Expert Committee to
report upon various issues relating to Ground Water;
(b) if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government thereon?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES(SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) & (b) The Expert Group on Ground Water Management
and Ownership constituted by the Planning Commission
submitted its report to the Planning Commission in
September,2007.The measures recommended by the Expert
Group include:-
# Enactment of modified ground legislation encompassing
inter alia role and responsibility of water user groups and
the Government by all the States and intervention by Central
Ground Water Authority (CGWA) in over-exploited areas.
# Technical measures to augment the available ground
water through artificial recharge, development of flood
plain aquifers and comprehensive studies of deeper aquifers
to ascertain the quantum of ground water that can be safely
extracted.
# Uninterrupted power supply through separate feeders at
pre-specified fixed period and incentives for more efficient energy and water use.
# Community management of new wells, construction of
recharge structures, using energy saving devices and subsidy
for using micro-irrigation techniques in ground water
stressed areas.
# Pani Puraskar to Panchayats using water sustainably
where ground water table has been maintained or improved
over the past five years.
# Scientific monitoring of ground water levels and
estimating a sustainable level of ground water usage by
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Ground Water
Boards to form the basis for planning the use of ground
water resources by the user groups.
(c) The action taken by the Government on the
recommendations of the Expert Group include:-
# Sanction of demonstrative artificial recharge projects
by CGWB and implementation of scheme on “Artificial Recharge
to ground water through Dug wells†for augmenting the ground
water resources in 7 States namely, Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh.
# Mapping of flood plain aquifers in the States of Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal along river Ganga and in
Assam along river Brahmaputra.
# Implementation of Farmers Participatory Action Research
Programme (FPARP) aimed at creating awareness about water
conservation practices.
# Institution of Bhoomijal Samvardhan Puraskars &
National Water Award to encourage adoption of innovative
practices of ground water augmentation and artificial
recharge through people’s participation.
# Periodic monitoring of ground water levels and
assessment of ground water resources by CGWB in association
with State Ground Water Organisations which forms the basis
for planning ground water development and management schemes
by the Government.