(a) whether it is a fact that every year most of the water received through rainfall during the monsoon season gradually flows unutilized into the seas and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any scheme for collecting rain water has been proposed by the Government so that this water could be used for meeting the requirements of water to the maximum possible extent and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the names of States where bunds/ dams have been built for storing this water?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) The average annual precipitation is about 4000 billion cubic meters (BCM). As per the assessment done by Central Water Commission, the average annual water availability in the country is 1869 BCM. The remaining water is lost to the atmosphere through evapo-transpiration from barren lands, forests, natural vegetation, rainfed agriculture, natural ponds and lakes etc. It is estimated that owing to topographic, hydrological and other constraints, the utilizable water is 1123 BCM which comprises of 690 BCM of surface water and 433 BCM of replenishable ground water resources. It has been estimated that about 450 BCM of surface water & 245 BCM of ground water is being utilized for various purposes. The rest of the water could be considered to be flowing down to sea.
(b) State Governments undertake several measures for augmenting, conserving and utilizing the water resources which inter-alia include conservation of water resources in reservoirs and traditional water bodies, rain water harvesting and artificial recharge of ground water. This Ministry provides technical and financial assistance to the State Governments in this regard through various schemes and programmes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Scheme for Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water-bodies etc.
Central Ground Water Board, under this Ministry has prepared a conceptual document entitled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India” during the year 2013 envisaging construction of 1.11 crore Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge structures in the country to harness 85 BCM (Billion Cubic Meters) of water. The augmented ground water resources will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.
Water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment ground water constitute a special focus area for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) works and about 2/3rd of the expenditure is directly related to construction of such structures.
Central Government has launched the National Water Mission with the objective of conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management. One of the goals of National Water Mission is ‘promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation, augmentation and preservation’.
(c) The names of States/UTs where large dams have been built for storing this water are given at Annexure.
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Annexure
Annexure referred in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.1138 to be answered on 21.12.2017 regarding ‘Storage of Rain Water’
S.No.
STATE/UT
1. ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
2. ARUNACHAL PRADESH
3. ANDHRA PRADESH
4. ASSAM
5. BIHAR
6. CHHATTISGARH
7. GOA
8. GUJARAT
9. HIMACHAL PRADESH
10. HARYANA
11. JAMMU AND KASHMIR
12. JHARKHAND
13. KARNATAKA
14. KERALA
15. MAHARASHTRA
16. MADHYA PRADESH
17. MANIPUR
18. MEGHALAYA
19. NAGALAND
20. ODISHA
21. PUNJAB
22. RAJASTHAN
23. SIKKIM
24. TAMIL NADU
25. TELANGANA
26. TRIPURA
27. UTTARAKHAND
28. UTTAR PRADESH
29. WEST BENGAL
30. MIZORAM
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