(a) the details of ground water level in Bihar during the last three years;
(b) whether the Government provides any financial/ technical assistance to check depletion of ground water level and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government is aware of grave situation which may occur in future due to depleting ground water level in Bihar and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) & (c) Ground water levels in various parts of the Country are declining because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization & urbanization, etc.
Central Ground Water Board is periodically monitoring the ground water levels throughout the Country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. The depth to water level in the Bihar during last three years (Pre-monsoon 2017, 2018 & 2019) mostly ranged from less than 2.0 to less than 20 metres below ground level (mbgl).
The Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being periodically assessed jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. As per the 2017 assessment, in Bihar, out of the total 534 assessment units (Blocks), 12 units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’ where Annual Ground Water Extraction is more than Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource, 18 units as ‘Critical’, 72 units as ‘Semi Critical’ and remaining blocks are categorized as ‘Safe’.
In order to assess the decline in water level on a long-term basis, Pre-monsoon water level data of Bihar collected by CGWB during Pre-monsoon 2019 has been compared with the decadal average (2009-2018). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 68% of the wells monitored have registered decline in ground water levels, mostly in the range of 0 – 2 m.
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(b) Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management including conservation and water harvesting in the Country is primarily States’ responsibility. However, the important measures taken by the Central Government for conservation, management of ground water and effective implementation of rain water harvesting in the country are at the following URL:
http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_depletion_Jun2019.pdf.
In addition, a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting. Of these, mention can be made of ‘Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan’ in Rajasthan, ‘Jalyukt Shibar’ in Maharashtra, ‘Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan’ in Gujarat, ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in Telangana, Neeru Chettu’ in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, ‘Jal Hi Jeevan’ in Haryana among others.
Central Government supports construction of water harvesting and conservation works primarily through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Watershed Development Component (PMKSY-WDC).
The expenditure incurred on water related works taken up under MGNREGA during last three years and current year as uploaded by the States in the MIS after following due procedures of the Programme is Rs.79686.58 Cr.
Department of Land Resources has sanctioned, 8214 watershed development projects in 28 States (except Goa) (now 27 States and UT of J&K and Ladakh), including Bihar, during the period 2009-10 to 2014-15 covering an area of about 39.07 million hectare under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) / PMKSY - WDC in 2015-16. Since inception, Rs.18760.56 Cr. has been released as Central share to the States, as on 28.02.2020.
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