THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)
(a) Yes, Madam. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is implementing various programmes/schemes such as Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies (RRR), Command Area Development (CAD), Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and recently launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for conservation,
Contd….2/
//2//
management, revival, promotion and preservation of water resources in the country including rural areas.
Further, the Government of India has also established National Water Mission (NWM) 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”. In addition, Central Ground Water Board has implemented 509 demonstrative rain water harvesting and artificial recharge projects.
(b) Under the RRR scheme, it is envisaged to provide Central Assistance for restoration of about 10,000 water bodies with earmarked central share outlay of Rs. 6235 crore during XII Plan, which includes Rs 250 crore for the spill-over works in respect of water bodies taken up during XI Plan. Out of 10,000 water bodies, 9000 water bodies are to be taken up in the rural areas and balance 1000 in urban areas. The year wise/state-wise details of grants allocated, released and utilized in respect of water bodies under RRR during XII plan are at Annexure-I.
(c) Various training and awareness programmes are being organised for multiple stakeholders including representatives from Panchayai Raj Institutions (PRIs) for promotion of water conservation. The Goal-II of NWM aims at ‘Promotion of citizen and state action for water conservation, augmentation and preservation’ and “Sensitization of elected representatives of over-exploited areas on dimensions of the problem. One of its major strategies is to orient investment under MNREGP towards water conservation.
NWM has organised a National Convention of Water Users Associations (WUA) on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) at New Delhi, and two Regional Conferences of WUAs at Ludhiana and Aurangabad to promote equitable distribution of water, create awareness about conservation of water, minimizing wastage, measures to check depletion of ground water table and adopting on-farm water efficient techniques etc. in the command areas. 18 one day mass awareness programmes were conducted in Rajasthan through Indira Gandhi Nahar Project, Govt. of Rajasthan and about 2000 farmers participated in all these programmes. Further, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has conceptualised “Jal Kranti Abhiyan” during the year 2015-16 in order to consolidate water conservation and management in the country through a holistic and integrated
approach involving multiple stakeholders, including Panchayati Raj Institutions and other local bodies thereby making it a mass movement. Jal Kranti Abhiyan has five components: Jal gram Yojana, Model Command Area Development, Pollution abatement, Mass Awareness Programme and other activities.
Contd….3/
//3//
(d) To conserve/manage/preserve water and its resources, Government of India has, in-principle, agreed to set up and autonomous body called National Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (NBWUE) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 during XII Plan period. Water Management Training Programmes are conducted under Jal Kranti Abhiyan 2015-16 for capacity building.
Further, the Ministry of Water Resources has also implemented many programmes for conservation, management, revival, promotion and preservation of water resources, which include:-
1. India Water Week-2015 was organised in New Delhi during 13-17th January 2015 at Vigyan Bhawan / Pragati Maidan with the theme “Water Management for Sustainable Development” focusing on better water management across all sectors. India Water Week-2016 has been planned to be held during 4th -8th April, 2016 on the theme “Water for all: Striving together” .
2. One day workshop on “HAMARA JAL-HAMARA JEEWAN” was taken up during organization of India Water Week-2015 in various districts where Scientists, Engineers, PRIs, Officials of Public Health Engineering and Agriculture Departments, NGOs and other stakeholders deliberated on issues of water conservation.
3. A Painting Competition for School children on Water Conservation was also organized last year in which 17.34 lakh students from 18,500 schools participated.
4. Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation had erected a pavilion in the 35th Edition of India International Trade Fair in Pragati Maidan during 14th to 27th November, 2015. The pavilion carried different exhibitory materials viz. Physical models of various projects/activities, banners, posters etc. depicting various activities, programmes and projects undertaken by the ten organizations under this Ministry. The theme of the pavilion for the year was: “JAL KRANTI ABHIYAN” with focus on Water Conservation, Water Use Efficiency and Ganga Cleaning.
*****
Download PDF Files
