Question : Ground Water Management

(a) whether water shortage is one of the biggest problems that the country faces today and poor management of available resources is a big reason for this problem and if so, the facts in this regard;
(b) whether the ground water provides for about 60 per cent of irrigation needs, 85 per cent of rural drinking water requirements and 50 per cent of urban water needs of the country and our rivers, lakes, ground water and other sources of water are being over-exploited;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether there is an urgent need for participatory ground water management in the country and if so, the initiatives taken by the Government to encourage participatory ground water management; and
(e) the steps taken to find ways to preserve, protect and augment the available water resources in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) to (c) As per the report of National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD) the average annual water availability in the country has been assessed as 1869 BCM, out of which the utilizable water is 1137 BCM due to topographic, hydrological and other constraints. The per capita availability of water has been decreasing over the years due to rising population.

The per capita average annual availability of water in 2011 has been assessed as 1545m? per year which is likely to decrease to 1340 m?/1140m? per year by 2025/2050 respectively.

As per the report of the ‘Task force on Irrigation, 2009’ of the erstwhile Planning Commission, ground water meets nearly 55% of irrigation requirements of the country besides meeting more than 85% of requirements for domestic use in rural areas and over 50% for urban areas.

(d) & (e) Atal Bhujal Yojana, which lays emphasis on participatory ground water management, is under consideration of the Government. Water being a State subject, preservation, protection and augmentation of ground water resources including promoting participatory ground water management is State Government’s responsibility. However, some of the steps taken by the Central Government for conservation of water are available at the following URL: http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/MeasuresForGW-Depletion_2.pdf
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