Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) under Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM&R) scheme, which is aimed to delineate aquifers (water bearing formations) disposition and their characterization for preparation of aquifer/ area specific ground water management plans with community participation. Further, under NAQUIM, ground water quality i.e. status of contamination of aquifers by toxic substances such as Arsenic, Nitrate, Fluoride, Iron etc are also studied.

In addition, CGWB generates ground water quality data of the entire country periodically on a regional scale through a set of monitoring wells as part of its ground water quality monitoring program.

Major activities being taken up under the GWM&R scheme include aquifer mapping for the entire country (NAQUIM) and other activities of CGWB such as ground water level & quality monitoring including Arsenic contamination on regular basis, periodic assessment of dynamic ground water resources in collaboration with States/UTs, regulation and control of ground water withdrawal in certain States/UTs, taking up few demonstrative recharge projects in selected water stressed areas, strengthening of scientific infrastructure for technological upgradation etc.

The major activity of NAQUIM is mapping of underground aquifer system of the entire country and to suggest management interventions for its sustainable use. Out of nearly 33 Lakh Sq. Km. of geographical area of the country, the mappable area of around 25 Lakh Sq. Km. was identified by the CGWB (under NAQUIM), which has already been completed before 31^st March 2023.

The information generated (including groundwater quality data) under NAQUIM are shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions under various Central/State schemes. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) under Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation is a Centrally Sponsored scheme which is being implemented in collaboration with States/UTs to make provision of potable tap water supply to every rural household of the country by 2024 including quality affected habitations.

In addition, CGWB has identified Arsenic safe deeper aquifer zones and Arsenic safe wells have been constructed using innovative cement sealing technique in parts of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh under the NAQUIM program. So far, 522 exploratory wells (40 in Bihar, 188 in West Bengal and 294 in Uttar Pradesh) tapping Arsenic safe aquifers have been constructed (till March 2022) under NAQUIM and handed over to concerned States for use. In addition, the innovative cement sealing technique has been shared with the States for their use.

Funds have been allocated and utilised across the country under the GWM&R Scheme to undertake various activities as mentioned in part (b) above including NAQUIM. Further, CGWB undertakes all the works through a common Regional & Divisional office looking after both Bihar & Jharkhand and therefore, the combined funds allocation/expenditure for Bihar & Jharkhand put together and Uttar Pradesh is given hereunder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

 

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AS

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