(a) whether the Government has prepared a master plan for artificial recharge to ground water in India and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the financial allocation made in this regard and the magnitude of artificial structures envisaged in rural and urban areas of the country; and
(c) the number of artificial recharge structures constructed thereunder during each of the last two years and the current year, State-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION
(PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)
(a) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a conceptual document entitled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India” during the year 2013, which 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, in an area of 9,41,541 sq.km by harnessing surplus monsoon runoff to augment ground water resources. The Master Plan has already been circulated to all State Governments for implementation.
(b) & (c) The magnitude of rain water harvesting & artificial structures envisaged in rural and urban areas of the country is given at Annexure-I. CGWB had undertaken a component of ‘Demonstrative Rain Water Harvesting and Artificial Recharge Projects’ during XI Plan under the scheme of ‘Ground Water Management & Regulation’ in priority areas. The project aimed at facilitating State Governments for replicating recharge projects in similar hydrogeological environment. During the XI Plan, 133 demonstrative recharge projects costing Rs. 99.87 crore were approved for construction of artificial recharge structures in 22 States. Although this component has been discontinued during the XII Plan period, funds are released for spilled over projects during XII Plan. State-wise details of the artificial recharge structures constructed during last two years and the current year under component ‘Demonstrative Rain Water Harvesting and Artificial Recharge Projects’ is given at Annexure-II.
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