(a) whether many cities in Bihar and Tamil Nadu are expected to have zero ground water soon;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to conserve ground water in Bihar and Tamil Nadu;
(c) the reasons for rapid depletion of ground water in the country; and
(d) the steps taken by Government to give long term solution to the sustainable ground water level?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) As per information available with the Ministry no cities in Bihar and Tamil Nadu are expected to have zero ground water soon.
(b) Water being a State subject, efforts to conserve and manage ground water is primarily States’ responsibility. Government of Tamil Nadu and Bihar launched ‘Kudimaramath’ and “Jal Jeevan Hariyali” respectively for management of groundwater water resources in their respective States.
(c) Ground water levels in various parts of the Country are declining because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization and urbanization etc.
(d) Important steps taken by Central Government for sustainable ground water management in the country including Bihar and Tamil Nadu are 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 and Jal Hi Jeevan in Haryana among others.
*****