THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI)
(a) to (g) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (g) OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION 155 FOR 2.8.2000 REGARDING RAIN
HARVESTING SYSTEM
The total average annual rainfall in the country is
about 4000 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM). Out of this, the
average annual flow in the various rivers of the country is
1869 BCM.
The utilisable surface water has been assessed as 690
BCM. The utilisable ground water is assessed as 433.8 BCM
and out of which 20 BCM is available in the State of
Orissa. The present utilisation of ground water in Orissa
is 15 percent.
Actual utilisation for different purposes has not been
assessed. However, the projected demand for the various
uses in the country is as under.
Use Water Demand for 2000 ( In Billion Cubic Metre )
Irrigation 630 Domestic 33 Industry 30 Energy 27 Others 30
TOTAL 750
The Central Ground Water Authority has suggested to
the State Governments to make provision of roof top rain
water harvesting in cities and initiate measures for
conservation, protection and augmentation of ground water
resources. It is however not considering legislation in
this regard.
The Madras Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA)
has issued regulations for conservation of roof top rain
water. Delhi Government has decided to make water
harvesting compulsory in all new residential buildings,
group housing societies and plotted residential areas of
over 500 Sq. m. Muncipal Corporation Ludhiana has issued
directions that no permission may be given for construction
of industrial plants, marriage palaces, commercial
complexes, group housing society and multi-storey flats
unless the owners of the property include the construction
of water harvesting structures.
The Government provides funds to the States to
supplement their efforts for providing drinking water under
Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) and up to
20 percent of the ARWSP funds can be earmarked and utilised
for sustainability of drinking water source including water
harvesting structures. As per guidelines under the Prime
Minister’s Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) for Rural Drinking Water,
minimum 25% of total allocation for the component is to be
utilised by the respective States / UT’s on projects/
schemes for water conservation, water harvesting, water
recharge and sustainability of drinking water source in
respect of DDP /DPAP areas, over-exploited dark / grey
blocks and other water stress / drought affected areas.
Allocation of 25% of the total allocation for sustainability
is not to be insisted upon in areas where the water table
and rainfall is high and ground water development is low.
The Government have received some proposals for
financial assistance for water harvesting from the States of
Gujarat, Nagaland and Mizoram for consideration under the
Central Sector Scheme of ground water recharge being
implemented by the Central Ground Water Board. No decision
on these proposals has been taken as yet.
