(a) whether the Government has issued any guidelines to ensure installation of rainwater harvesting system in every project including flyovers, bridges and other Government projects in various cities to check groundwater depletion;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the other steps proposed to ensure sustainability of water in various cities; and
(c) the details of existing monitoring system to ensure compliance and review of such guidelines?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)
(a) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has issued advisories to States and UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water/rainwater harvesting. CGWA has also issued direction for implementation of ground water recharge measures along all Highways and other major roads; along rail tracks, in Stadiums and in Airports. Accordingly, 30 States/UTs have made rain water harvesting mandatory by enacting laws or by formulating rules & regulations or by including provisions in Building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
(b) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under Section 3(3) of ‘The Environment (Protection) Act, (1986)’ has issued guidelines/ criteria for evaluation of proposals/ requests for ground water abstraction by infrastructure projects, wherein, provision for artificial recharge to ground water has been incorporated. The Guidelines, inter-alia, state that the run-off from the entire project area is to be utilized for artificial recharge to ground water unless risk of contamination exists or area is water logged.
In addition, several measures have been taken up by the Central Government for the purpose of sustainability of water in various cities :
• The National Water Policy (2012) formulated by Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia, advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures. The National Water Policy (2012) has been forwarded to all State Governments/ UTs and concerned Ministries/ Departments of Central Government for adoption.
• This Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for its regulation and development which includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Model bill.
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• CGWB has also prepared a conceptual document entitled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India” during 2013, involving ground water scientists/experts. The Master Plan envisages construction of 1.11 crore rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the Country at an estimated cost of Rs. 79,178 Crores to harness 85 BCM (Billion Cubic Metre) of water. The augmented ground water resources will enhance the availability of water for drinking, domestic, industrial and irrigation purpose. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.
• The Department of Rural Development has prioritized work related with Natural Resources Management (including water harvesting) under MGNREGA and has issued a join framework with the Ministry of Water Resources and Department of Land Resources. The framework stresses on utilizing the technical resources of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and Central Water Commission (CWC) along with use of GIS technology of ISRO for planning and monitoring purposes from FY 2017-18 onwards. For FY 2016-17, the States have taken up a target of 8,82,325 farm ponds.
• CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme during XII Plan, 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.
• CGWB has been organizing mass awareness programmes in the Country to promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.
• Ministry of Urban Development has circulated its Model Building Bye-Laws (2016) to all State Governments which, inter-alia, incorporates provisions for Rain Water Harvesting.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have merged two separate programmes, namely, National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) into a new Integrated Scheme of National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-Systems (NPCA) for conservation and management of identified lakes and wetlands in the country.
(c) The grant of ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) to projects/ industry by CGWA for withdrawal of ground water is accorded for a limited period of two years with
compliance conditions including implementation of rainwater harvesting and recharge to ground water. At the time of renewal of NOC, CGWA ensures that the conditions of NOC are complied with and the Industry/Project submits the supporting evidence on compliance of conditions of NOC, failing which the NOC is not renewed for further period.
MoWR, RD & GR in convergence with M/o Rural Development has accorded priority to rain water harvesting works, under MGNREGA, in over-exploited areas.
Further, the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016 have recommended constituting a rainwater harvesting cell, to monitor the compliance of incorporating the rainwater harvesting structures at various places.
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