MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) to (c) The water sources dry up because of a number of reasons including excessive extraction of ground and surface water mainly for irrigation and industrial purposes, inadequate recharge of water in the sources, (both surface water and ground water) due to insufficient rains, depletion of tree cover and undergrowth in forests and catchment areas etc.
Rural drinking water is a state subject. For this, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation assists the State Governments technically and financially through centrally sponsored scheme namely National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). A budgetary allocation of Rs. 6000 crore has been provided to States/UT for NRDWP in 2016-17. 10% of the allocation under NRDWP is for Sustainability of schemes to be used exclusively to achieve drinking water security by adopting conjunctive use of surface water and ground water and construction of water recharging structures with major focus on water quality affected areas, overexploited, critical and semi-critical areas as specified by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). For doing this, the State Governments are vested with powers to select, plan and implement related schemes under the NRDWP. Further, the Ministry has coordinated with other ministries to create water conservation measures through various centrally sponsored programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Repair Renovation & Rehabilitation Scheme etc.
The physical and financial progress of water supply and sustainability schemes under NRDWP is also monitored in National/ Regional/ State level review meetings, conferences and video-conferences. The total number of recharge structures created for source sustainability as per IMIS of the Ministry is placed at Annexure-I. Under NRDWP, the Government of India has given priority to cover partially covered habitations and quality affected habitations with safe drinking water schemes.
(d) Proposal received from Shri Vijay Kedia on Drinking Water Security (Kedia Farm Pattern Patented Underground Rainwater Harvesting) was scrutinised by the Standing Committee on Water and Sanitation technologies constituted by the Ministry headed by Prof. Mashelkar and recommended the same as innovative technology. Further, the Ministry, through National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, had completed 4,898 Hydro-Geo-Morphological Maps (ground water prospect maps) which can be very useful in siting artificial recharge structures so that ground water can be recharged. The Ministry has advised the State Governments to utilise the technical knowhow of the above models and maps for proper water conservation including traditional water sources.
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