(a) whether the Government assesses the groundwater resources periodically and has made any assessment of the same in the country recently and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(b) the mechanism put in place for such periodic assessment;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any special programme for the purpose after the assessment and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to fulfil the future ground water need in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) Central Ground Water Board carries out periodic assessment of replenishable ground water resources of the Country jointly with the State Government Departments. As per the latest assessment(2011), the total annual replenishable ground water resource of the Country is around 433 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM). The net annual ground water availability is 398 BCM out of which annual ground water utilization (draft) for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes is estimated as 245 BCM and stage of ground water development is 62%.
(b) The assessment is carried out based on methodology recommended by Ground Water Estimation Committee 1997 (GEC-97) under the supervision of State Level Committee on Ground Water Assessment. The National level compilation is carried out under the over-all supervision of Central Level Expert Group. The report is finally approved by MoWR, RD & GR.
(c) Programmes being undertaken by the Government include –
• CGWB has taken up aquifer mapping and management pogramme during XII plan, under the scheme of ground water management and regulation. Objectives of the programme include delineation of aquifers, characterization of the aquifers and preparation of management plans to ensure sustainability of ground water resources. So far, out of the total 23 lakh sq km of mappable area in the country, aquifer maps and management plans have been developed for an area of 5.20 lakh sq km.
• MoWR, RD & GR has also launched ‘Jal Kranti Abhiyan’ (2015-16 to 2017-18) in order to consolidate water conservation and management in the Country through a holistic and integrated approach involving all stakeholders, making it a mass movement. ‘Jal Gram Yojana’ component of
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‘Jal Kranti Abhiyan’ envisages selection of two villages in every district, preferably ‘over-exploited’ or facing acute water scarcity, as ‘Jal Grams’ to ensure optimum and sustainable utilization of water.
(d) Steps taken by the Government to fulfill future water needs include –
• 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.
• 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 85 BCM (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.
• The Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has suggested all States to adopt water conservation measures like roof top rainwater harvesting, erecting sustainability structures for water conservation etc. For creating such sustainability structures, 10 % of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) funds are provided to the States.
• Department of Land Resources is currently implementing 8214 watershed development projects in 28 States 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, and pasture development etc.
• Special focus is given through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water. In addition, priority has been given for construction of 882325 farm ponds in the year 2016-17 to harvest rain water.
• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under “The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the Country. So far, CGWA has notified 162 areas in the Country for the purpose of regulation of ground water. Under the CGWA guidelines, in notified areas, no permission is accorded to extract ground water through any energized means for any purpose other than drinking water. However, for non-notified areas, ground water withdrawal by industries is regulated by means of guidelines/criteria as specified as CGWA.
• CGWA has issued advisories to States and UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water / rain water harvesting. 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.
• This Ministry 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.
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