THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)
(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *113 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2017 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING “RAINWATER HARVESTING” ASKED BY SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM, HON’BLE M.P:
(a) Ground water meets nearly 55% of irrigation requirements of the country besides meeting more than 85% of water requirement for domestic use in rural areas and over 50% for urban areas. Depletion of ground water is attributed to excessive withdrawal of ground water for various purposes including irrigation, domestic and industries.
(b) According to NITI Aayog, the Ultimate Irrigation Potential of the country is 140 Million Hectare out of which irrigation potential to the tune of 113 Million hectare has already been created. While the scope of further expansion of irrigational infrastructure is limited, there is a need to bridge the gap between Irrigation Potential Created and Irrigation Potential Utilised. The Government of India has launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana which, inter-alia, focuses to bridge this gap and on improving water use efficiency at farm level.
(c) The steps being taken by the Government for rain water harvesting are as follows:
• 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 also 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 Department of Rural Development has prioritized work related with Natural Resources Management (including water harvesting) under MGNREGA and has issued a joint framework with the Ministry of Water Resources and Department of Land Resources. Further, MoRD has taken up an extensive programme for construction of farm ponds; 882325 farm ponds are being constructed under MGNREGA during the current year.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization for preparation of aquifer/area specific ground water management plans, with community participation.
• 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.
• CGWB has been organizing mass awareness programmes in the Country to promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water; more than 17 lakh children participated in a nation-wide painting competition in the last year to promote conservation of water.
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