THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. The report titled “Composite Water Management Index”, published by NITI Aayog in June 2018, mentions that 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water. The report also mentions that by 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply. NITI Aayog has sourced these figures from the reports published by WRI Aqueduct; WHO Global Health Observatory, Mckinsey & Water Resources Group and the World Bank.
However, as per National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD) report, the total water availability of India received through precipitation has been assessed about 4000 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) per annum. After evaporation, 1869 BCM water is available as natural runoff. Due to geological and other factors, the utilizable water availability is limited to 1137 BCM per annum comprising 690 BCM of surface water and 447 BCM of replenishable ground water.
Total requirement of the country for different uses for high demand scenario for the years 2010 and 2025 has been assessed as 710 BCM and 843 BCM respectively. Further, it is projected that in the year 2050, the country’s total water demand is estimated at 1180 BCM, outstripping the total availability of 1137 BCM.
(c) & (d) Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources to ensure sustainability and availability are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance through various schemes and programmes. Central Government has taken various steps to tackle water crisis through various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, Repair, Renovation & Restoration of water bodies, implementation of new projects like Pancheshwar Dam, Polavaram Project, Interlinking of Rivers Project, Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project, etc.
Central Government has launched PMKSY in 2015-16 which aims to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc., thus bringing much desired rural prosperity. During 2016-17, 99 on-going Major/Medium irrigation projects under PMKSY-Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) having potential of 76.03 lakh hectares were prioritized in consultation with States, for completion in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works. The CADWM programme has been taken up to enhance utilization of irrigation potential created and improve agriculture production on a sustainable basis through Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM).
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) on 25 June, 2015 in five hundred cities across the country with major focus on water supply.
The Government of India has also formulated a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for Water Resources Development which envisages transfer of water from surplus basins to water deficit basins.
Some other initiatives/measures taken by the Central Government for conservation of ground water are as under:
• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a conceptual document titled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water – 2013” which provides information about area specific artificial recharge techniques to augment the ground water resources based on the availability of source water and capability of subsurface formations to accommodate it. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 1.11 crore artificial recharge structures in urban and rural areas at an estimated cost of Rs. 79178 crore.
• CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme (NAQUIM) under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. The Aquifer Mapping is aimed to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization for preparation of aquifer/area specific ground water management plans, with community participation.
• ‘Atal Bhujal Yojana’, envisaging sustainable management of ground water with emphasis on demand side management through community participation in identified over-exploited and water scarce blocks in Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka has been proposed with an estimated cost of Rs. 6000 Crore.
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