THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) to (d) The National Water Policy (2012) formulated by Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter -alia, advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures. The National Water Policy (2012) has been forwarded to all State Governments/ UTs and concerned Ministries/ Departments of Central Government for adoption of the policy.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a conceptual document entitled "Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India" during 2013, involving ground water scientists/experts. The Master Plan envisages construction of 1.11 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the Country at an estimated cost of Rs. 79,178 Crores to harness 85BCM (Billion Cubic Metre) of water. The augmented ground water resources will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purpose. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation. Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for its regulation and development which includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Model bill. 30 States/UTs have made rain water harvesting mandatory by enacting laws or by formulating rules & regulations or by including provisions in Building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme during XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. The Aquifer Mapping is aimed at delineating aquifer disposition and their characterization for preparation of aquifer/area specific ground water management plans.
Department of Land Resources is currently implementing 8214 watershed development projects in 28 States (except Goa) covering an area of about 39.07 million ha. under the Watershed Development Component (WDC) of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) principally for development of rainfed portions of net cultivated area and culturable wastelands.
The major activities taken up under the WDC-PMKSY, inter-alia, include ridge area treatment, drainage line afforestation, soil and moisture conservation, rain water harvesting, horticulture, pasture development, creation of livelihoods for asset-less person, etc. An amount of Rs. 2162.80 crore during 2013-14, Rs. 2284.63 crore during 2014-15 and Rs. 1487.83 crore during 2015-16 was released as central share.
Ministry of Urban Development has circulated its Model Building Bye-Laws (2016) to all State Governments which, inter-alia, incorporates provisions for Rain Water Harvesting. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) mandates the States to formulate a policy and action plan for having rain water harvesting structures in all commercial, public buildings and new buildings on plots of 300 sq.m and above.
Under MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), Rainwater Harvesting structures, watershed management works and renovation of traditional water bodies are undertaken to improve the ground water situation. To bring about the convergence among the schemes-MGNREGS, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY) and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), the Ministry of Rural Development has developed Natural Resource Management Framework under MGNREGS within the overall framework of PMKSY.
Under the MGNREGS, during last three financial year i.e., 2013-14 to 2015-16, a sum of Rs. 3274368.00 lakhs, 3247686.69 lakhs and 3664479.70 lakhs respectively had been released as financial assistance to the States/UTs.
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