(a) whether check dams are required to be constructed for the development and utilisation of water resources;
(b) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to ensure construction of check dams in a time-bound manner;
(c) the details of funds made available and utilised during the last three years for construction of check dams; and
(d) whether the Government has reviewed/assessed the outcome of check dams in ensuring development of water resources and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (PROF.SANWAR LAL JAT)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.367 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2014 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING “CONSTRUCTION OF CHECK DAMS” ASKED BY SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL AND SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO, HON’BLE M.Ps, LOK SABHA
(a)&(b) Yes, Madam. Check Dams and other structures like sub-surface dykes, percolation tanks etc. are constructed for facilitating recharge to ground water by impounding water. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation had undertaken Demonstrative Artificial Recharge Project during XI Plan period, with an objective to construct various demonstrative artificial recharge structures including Check Dams to incentivize and enable the State Governments to replicate them in similar hydrogeological environment. CGWB has also prepared a conceptual document entitled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India,” which envisages construction of different types of Artificial Recharge structures including Check Dams in the Country. The Master Plan envisages construction of 1.11 crore structures including 7,01,818 Check Dams in the Country. This has also been shared with the States.
(c) In the last three years (2011-2014) projects amounting to Rs. 3476.07 lakhs were approved for demonstrative artificial recharge projects including Check Dams. Out of this, Rs. 2994.67 lakhs have been released to the implementing agencies of 11 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh during the same period.
Further, as per the information available, a total number of 99540 Sustainability Structures including 12761 Check Dams were constructed during the year 2012-13, 2013-14 and in the current year at an expenditure of Rs.235861.98 lakhs under the scheme of NRDWP (National Rural Drinking Water Programme) of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. In addition, 89,05,478 structures like underground dykes, earthen dams, stop dams, check dams etc were taken up during the year 2012-13, 2013-14 and in the current year under the Water Conservation and Water Harvesting programme of MGNREGA at an expenditure of Rs.15,46,249 lakhs as labour and material cost.
(d) Although, the rise in water levels depends upon the hydrogeological as well as hydrological conditions prevailing in the area, the assessment studies conducted by CGWB on some of the projects indicated that the ground water levels in vicinity of the projects has risen. In general, a rise of 0.1 metre to 4.5 metres in water level has been observed. Since there is also an increase in discharge of wells as well as the irrigated area, the actual rise in groundwater levels must have been more than reported.