Question : RAIN WATER HARVESTING

(a) whether the Union Government has received proposals from various States for availing assistance under rain water harvesting and water recharge programmes;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon along with the funds sanctioned for the purpose;

(c) whether the initiatives taken by the Government to promote rainwater harvesting are adequate to meet the increasing demand of water in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government proposes to make rain water harvesting mandatory in all public buildings/premises/establishments in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the mechanism put in place to monitor rain water harvesting system in all buildings along with the action taken/being taken against the delinquent officials?

THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARATI)

(a) to(e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.532TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.08.2014 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING“RAIN WATER HARVESTING” ASKED BY SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM AND SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA, HON’BLE M.Ps, LOK SABHA:

(a) & (b) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), a subordinate office under this Ministry, has undertaken the Demonstrative Rain Water Harvesting and Artificial Recharge Projects during XI Plan under the Scheme of “Ground Water Management & Regulation” in priority areas. During the XI Plan, CGWB has received 298 project proposals from 25 States, out of which, 133 demonstrative recharge projects costing Rs.99.87 crore were approved for construction of artificial recharge structures in 22 States. Details are given at Annexure – I.

(c) to (e) Water being a State subject, necessary measures are being undertaken by the State Governments for rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water. Government of India supplements the efforts of State Governments through technical and financial support under various schemes. Further, 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 different types of Artificial Recharge and Rainwater Harvesting structures in the Country in an area of 9,41,541 square km by harnessing surplus monsoon runoff to augment ground water resources. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments for implementation. Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has issued an advisory to Chief Secretaries / Administrators of all the States / Union Territories and Ministry of Urban Development to take necessary measures for adopting rainwater harvesting / artificial recharge in all the Government buildings; 31 States/UTs have made rainwater harvesting mandatory by enacting laws / formulating rules and regulations / by including provisions in building bye-laws / through suitable Government orders etc as per details given in Annexure – II.