Questions :

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

• whether Government is aware of the fact that the groundwater level has depleted in the last decade;
• if so, the regions and cities across the country including Haryana that are likely to run out of groundwater by 2030, details of the figures thereof;
• the efforts being made by Government to stop the falling groundwater level;
• the status of Atal Bhujal Yojana in Haryana and by when it will achieve its goal; and
• whether Government is searching for advanced methods of irrigation and improved varieties of seeds through which more production can be obtained with less water?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

• & (b) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is periodically monitoring the ground water levels throughout the Country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. In order to assess the decline in water level on a long-term basis, the water level data (of the country including Haryana) collected by CGWB during November 2022 have been compared with the decadal average (Nov 2012 – Nov 2021). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 61.1% of the wells monitored have registered rise in ground water levels.

Further, to assess the decline in water level on a long-term basis, the water level data of urban areas including 55 cities (of the country including Haryana) collected by CGWB during November 2022 have been compared with the decadal average (Nov 2012 – Nov 2021). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 59.8% of the wells monitored have registered rise in ground water levels.

However, as per available information, the ground water levels in certain parts of the country including certain cities are declining because of continuous withdrawal necessitated by increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization & urbanization etc.

• Water being a State subject effective rainwater harvesting/recharge of groundwater for its sustainable management in the country including cities falls under States’ mandate however, a number of steps have been taken by Central government which can be accessed through web-link http://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for

%20water_depletion_july2022.pdf . Some of them are listed at Annexure I.

• In Haryana, Atal Bhujal Yojana is being implemented in 1656 Gram Panchayats (GPs) of 36 Blocks falling under 14 districts. The communities in all 1656 GPs in Haryana have been mobilized and their capacities have been built up through focused Information, Education & Communication (IEC) and training programs in terms of ground water data collection and its importance in water budgeting for informed and decentralized decision making. 1656 Community led Water Security Plans (WSPs), having details about water budget, proposed demand side and supply side interventions have been prepared in Haryana. Implementation of the WSPs is being done in the field with active involvement of communities through convergence of various Central / State Government Schemes.

Further, the targeted goals of Atal Bhujal Yojana is likely to be fulfilled during the implementation period i.e. FY 2020-21 to 2024-25.

• Water being a State subject searching for advanced methods of irrigation and improved varieties of seeds for more production with less water falls under States’ mandate. However, a number of steps have been taken by Central Government to reduce consumption of groundwater in agriculture Some of them are given at Annexure II.

Further, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare is promoting the use of high yielding, stress tolerant (flood, drought & salt), bio-fortified verities of seeds to the farmers for which they have taken a number of measures to ensure their timely availability to farmers viz. guiding States to prepare a long term Seed Rolling Plan, three years in advance (including drought tolerant varieties), States to place their breeder seed indent of agriculture and vegetable crops (including drought tolerant varieties) one year in advance for systematic breeder seed production ,sharing a list of high-yielding newly released and notified varieties of Seeds to stockholders etc.

In addition, Central Government have taken a number of steps for sustainable management of water resources including ground water in the country which can be seen in the web link – http://jalshakti- dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for%20water_dep letion_july2022.pdf.

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2161 TO BE ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 20.03.2023 REGARDING “DEPLETING GROUNDWATER LEVELS”.

Important steps by central Government for sustainable management of groundwater in the country

1. Government of India is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country including urban areas. First JSA was launched in 2019 in water stressed blocks of 256 districts which continued during the years 2021, 2022 (across entire country both rural and urban areas) with the primary aim to effectively harvest the monsoon rainfall through creation of artificial recharge structures, watershed management, recharge and reuse structures, intensive afforestation and awareness generation etc. JSA for the year 2023 have been launched by Hon’ble President of India on 04 Mar 2023 with the theme “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”.
2. Hon’ble Prime Minister has launched Amrit Sarovar Mission on 24^th April 2022. The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3(3) of the “Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water by industries, mining projects, infrastructure projects etc in the The latest guideline in this regard with pan-India applicability was notified by the Ministry on 24 September 2020. CGWA and States issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) for extraction of groundwater to various industries/project proponents as per their jurisdiction and as per the extant guidelines.

25. CGWB is implementing National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM) in the country and an area of 25.15 lakh sq km has been covered under the NAQUIM studies. The NAQUIM study report along-with management plans are shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions.
26. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB with States/UTs providing a broad outline of the project and expected investments. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 1.42 crore Rain water harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the Country to harness 185 Billion Cubic Metre (BCM) of water. The Master plan has been shared with States/UTs for suitable intervention.
27. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has formulated Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 for the States/UTs, wherein adequate focus has been given on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures. As per MBBL, all buildings having a plot size of 100 sq.m. or, more shall mandatorily include the complete proposal of rainwater 35 States/ UTs, including Karnataka, have adopted the features of the Bye Laws.

• Central Government is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL), a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs 6000 The scheme focuses on community participation and demand side interventions for sustainable ground water management in identified water stressed areas of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The scheme was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 25.12.2019 and is being implemented from 01.04.2020 for a period of 5 years.

ANNEXURE II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2161 TO BE ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 20.03.2023 REGARDING “DEPLETING GROUNDWATER LEVELS”.

Important steps by central Government to reduce consumption of groundwater in agriculture sector.

1. Central Government is promoting conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water in agriculture, drinking water and other applications etc through various policy initiatives/schemes. In this regard, National Water Policy (NWP-2012) advocates for a number of policy interventions for sustainable management of water resources including efficient use of groundwater and surface water in the country.
2. Central Government launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) in the year 1996-97 to provide Central Assistance to States for the major/medium irrigation projects in the country. Further, during the year 2015-16, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched with the aim 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., and Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was co-opted in it. Major and Medium Irrigation Projects through surface water sources at various places have been taken up under this scheme. Further, irrigation is being done through piped irrigation network in about 17.5 lakh hectare command area by constructing more than 48,500 km underground pipeline.

• Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies and Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) schemes are being implemented by this Ministry as part of PMKSY with an aim to comprehensively improve & restore the water bodies, to promote conjunctive use of surface & ground water, ground water recharge/conservation and to undertake minor irrigation projects using surface water etc.

24. Guidelines (with pan India applicability) for regulation and control of ground water extraction in the country was notified by the Ministry on 24.09.2020. Water being a State subject, the guideline advocates for a participatory approach for sustainable ground water management in agriculture sector including working towards crop rotation, diversification & other initiatives to reduce over-dependence on groundwater.
25. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which is operational from 2015-16. The PMKSY-PDMC Crop mainly focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through micro irrigation (drip and sprinkler irrigation system). Since 2015-16, 74.52 Lakh Ha of irrigation area in the country have been brought under Micro Irrigation under PMKSY-PDMC.
26.