The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependent upon hydro-meteorological and geological factors. However, water availability per person is dependent on population of the country and for India, per capita water availability in the country is reducing due to increase in population. Also due to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation, the water availability in many regions of the country is much below the national average and this may result in water stress / scarce conditions.

                        No specific survey has been carried out to measure the total demand and the existing supply of water in big cities of the country. However, the study “Reassessment of Water Availability in India using Space Inputs” has been carried out by Central Water Commission (CWC) in 2019. As per the study, the average annual water resources of the 20 basins of the country has been assessed as 1999.20 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM). The study further reveals that 8 basins(Brahmaputra, Godavari, Brahamani & Baitarni, Mahanadi, Narmada, Tapi, West Flowing Rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari and Minor River Draining into Myanmar & Bangladesh) will have per-capita utilizable water more than the projected per capita water use in the year 2050. However, 14 basins (Indus, Ganga, Barak & others, Krishna, Cauvery, Subernarekha, Pennar, Mahi, Sabarmati, West Flowing Rivers from Tapi to Tadri, East Flowing Rivers between Mahanadi & Pennar, East Flowing Rivers between Pennar & Kanyakumari, West Flowing Rivers of Kutch and Saurastra including Luni and Area of Inland drainage in Rajasthan) will have per capita utilizable water less than the per capita water use. Further, it may be mentioned that water resource data is maintained basin-wise and not state or district wise.

                  Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes.

                     Government of India has launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) on 25th June, 2015 in select 500 cities and towns across the country. One of the key objectives of the Mission is to ensure that every household has access to a tap connection with assured supply of water. The water supply component includes new, augmentation and rehabilitation of water supply system, rejuvenation of water bodies for drinking water supply and special water supply arrangement for difficult areas, hills and coastal cities, including those having water quality problem.

                The Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission-Har Ghar Jal, which aims at providing potable water in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis to every rural household including tribal areas of the country through tap water connection by 2024.

                     Some steps taken by the Central Government to control ground water depletion and promote rain water harvesting/conservation are available at the URL:

http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_depletion_Feb2021.pdf

                   This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Tribal Affairs, Shri Bishweswar Tudu  in Rajya  Sabha  today.

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AS/SK

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