Question : HARVESTING OF RAIN WATER

(a) whether attention of the government has been drawn to the news-item captioned “Water harvesting bid hailed” appearing in Hindu dated September 2, 2001;

(b) if so, the facts and the details thereof;

(c) whether the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has appreciated the efforts to conserve water and revive traditional methods of rain water harvesting done by the Government of Rajasthan; and

(d) if so, the amount of grants given by the Union Government to the State Government in tackling water harvesting problem?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SMT. BIJOYA CHAKRAVARTY)

(a) to (c) Yes, Sir. A news-item captioned “Water harvesting bid hailed’’ has appeared in Rajasthan edition of the Hindu – daily newspaper dated 2nd September, 2001. The news-item states that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has appreciated Rajasthan’s efforts to conserve water and revive traditional methods of rain-water harvesting and have expressed desire to work together with Rajasthan in areas like land use and water management, drought mitigation, preparedness and risk reduction.


(d) The Central Ground Water Board has approved and sanctioned 13 schemes in the State of Rajasthan for roof top rain water harvesting at a cost of Rs. 71.41 lakhs under its pilot Central Sector Scheme on artificial recharge of ground water.