(a) whether the groundwater levels are dipping alarmingly in various locations of the country especially Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the steps the Government is taking to provide financial aid to Andhra Pradesh to deal with the problem and enhance the groundwater level?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) As per assessment (year – 2011) carried out jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Government Departments, out of 6607 assessment units in the Country, 1071 assessment units in 15 States and 3 UTs are categorized as ‘Over-exploited’. Details are given at Annexure. In Andhra Pradesh, 41 assessment units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’.
(b) As informed by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, for the State of Andhra Pradesh, 432 projects in an area of 1.810 mha. have been sanctioned under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) at a total cost of Rs. 2290.00 Cr. and Rs. 725.42 Cr has been released to the State (as on 22.03.2017).
To bring about the convergence among the schemes-MGNREGS, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY) and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), the Ministry of Rural Development developed Natural Resource Management Framework under MGNREGS within the overall framework of PMKSY and has asked states to convene workshops to familiarize the States/UTs with the Framework so that the States/UTs may incorporate the Natural Resource Management approach in preparation of labour budget for FY 2017-18 by ensuring proper coordination and convergence among MGNREGA and PMKSY, IWMP and Common Area Development and Water Management related works.
The quantum of financial assistance released under MGNREGA is not work/project wise. Funds for programme implementation are released to the States as per the agreed to Labour Budget, performance of the States and projected demand received from the States.
Under the MGNREGS, during last three financial year i.e., 2013-14 to 2015-16, a sum of Rs. 475049.00 lakhs, 290314.10 lakhs and 307380.33 lakhs respectively had been released as financial assistance to the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Further steps taken by the Government for conservation of surface and ground water are available at the following URL http://mowr.gov.in/writereaddta/GW_Depletion.pdf.
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ANNEXURE
Annexure referred in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Q.No. 4721 for reply on 30.03.2017 regarding “Depletion in Groundwater Level”
Over-Exploited Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas In India
(As on March 2011)
Sl.No.
States / Union Territories Over-Exploited
Assessment units
(Nos.)
States
1. Andhra Pradesh 41
2. Chhattisgarh 1
3. Gujarat 24
4. Haryana 71
5. Himachal Pradesh 1
6. Jharkhand 6
7. Karnataka 63
8. Kerala 1
9. Madhya Pradesh 24
10. Maharashtra 10
11. Punjab 110
12. Rajasthan 172
13. Tamil Nadu 374
14. Telangana 42
15. Uttar Pradesh 111
Total (States) 1051
Union Territories
16. Daman & Diu 1
17. Delhi 18
18. Puducherry 1
Total (UTs) 20
Grand Total 1071