(a) whether the level of ground water is being depleted
alarmingly due to its irrational use;
(b) if so, the details of such depletion recorded during each of
the last three years and current year;
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to prevent such
depletion;
(d) whether the Government has any plan to link the policy of
subsidizing micro-irrigation to ground water status where the
ground water depletion is most serious; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV)
(a)&(b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the Ministry of
Water Resources, monitors ground water levels through a nation-
wide network of observation wells. An analysis of data colleted
through these observation wells indicates that there has been
significant decline (more than 20 cm/year) in ground water levels
during pre-monsoon period during last three years and current year
in certain parts of 362 districts of 23 States/Union Territories
viz. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka,
Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan,
Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, West Bengal, Dadra & Nagar
Haveli and Pondicherry. The main reasons for decline in ground
water level are rapid pace of urbanization, increasing demand for
agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes, change in cropping
pattern, excessive withdrawals of ground water, poor rainfall etc.
(c) ‘Water’ being a State subject, it is primarily the
responsibility of the concerned State Governments to formulate
plans for augmenting water resources. The CGWB has prepared a
report entitled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground
Waterâ€, which envisages recharge of 36453 Million Cubic Meter
volume of surplus monsoon runoff, through construction of 39.25
lakhs artificial recharge and roof top rain water harvesting
structures. The CGWB has implemented a Central Sector Scheme for
Study of Recharge to Ground Water in the country during the VIII &
IX Five Year Plans. The following steps have also been taken by
the Union Government in this regard:-
(i) Circulation of a Model Bill in the year 1970 which was re-
circulated in 1992 and again in 1996 to all the States/Union
Territories to enable them to enact suitable legislation for
regulation and control of ground water development. A revised
Model Bill, 2005 to regulate and control the development and
management of ground water has been again circulated to all the
States/Union Territories.
(ii) Circulation of Manual/Guidelines on Artificial
Recharge of Ground Water to the States/Union Territories to
enable them to formulate area specific artificial recharge
schemes to check the declining trend of ground water levels.
(iii) Central Ministries/Departments of Railways, Defence,
Posts, Telecommunications, Central Public Works Department and
National Highways Authority of India have been requested to
provide roof top rain water harvesting structures in the
buildings under their control.
(iv) States/UTs have been requested to provide water harvesting
structures in buildings under their administrative control.
(v) All the States/Union Territories have been requested for
advising the local bodies in their respective States/Union
Territories to allow rebate in property tax to persons, who adopt
roof top rainwater harvesting in their premises.
(vi) CGWB has provided technical guidance on rain water
harvesting to around 2000 agencies, including State Government
agencies, educational institutions, private entrepreneurs and
individuals.
(vii) The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has notified 11
critical areas on consideration of over-exploitation of ground
water resources and 32 over-exploited areas for registration of
ground water structures.
(viii) Launching of a website on Roof Top Rain Water
Harvesting (www.cgwb.net) to make aware and educate the public
about various techniques of harvesting rainwater and store it for
future use.
(ix) Organisation of mass awareness programmes and training
courses on rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge of ground
water.
(x) Rain Water Harvesting campaign has been launched keeping in
view the various target groups like youth and children, women,
farmers and villagers, policy and opinion makers. Publicity
through print media, telecasting of spots on the television,
broadcasting messages on radio, holding of seminars, workshops,
conferences etc., have been undertaken for the purpose.
(xi) The Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation,
Government of India have amended Building Bye-laws, 1983, making
provision for water harvesting through storing of water run-off
including rain water in all new buildings on plots of 100 square
meters and above in Delhi mandatory. Similarly, State Governments
of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and
Kerala have made roof top rain water harvesting mandatory in
specified cases.
(d) No, Sir.
(e) Does not arise.