Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the first census of water bodies in convergence with the Sixth Minor Irrigation Census (reference year 2017-18), under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – “Irrigation Census”. The objective of the census of water bodies is to develop a national database for all water bodies by collecting information on all important aspects of the subject including their size, condition, status of encroachments, use, storage capacity etc. Presently, the field work and data processing activities of the first census of water bodies is going on. However, as per currently available data, the tentative figures of State-wise number of water bodies is provided in Annexure I.

The data of water bodies upto fifth minor irrigation census is limited upto village level whereas first census of water bodies, conducted in convergence with sixth Minor Irrigation Census, covers all types of water bodies in both rural and urban areas. Hence, comparison of water bodies data between fifth and sixth minor irrigation censuses is not feasible.

The information on encroachment of water bodies is being collected for the first time under the first Census of Water bodies which is nearing completion. As per currently available data, the State-wise tentative number of cases of encroachment of water bodies is given in Annexure-I.

Action on reported encroachment of water bodies is to be taken by the respective State Governments, as it comes under the purview of the State Government concerned. However, from time to time this Ministry has been sensitizing the State Governments regarding importance of water bodies for socio economic development and sustainable water security to the local population. Need for taking necessary steps for keeping all the water bodies encroachment free, such as inclusion of water bodies in land records and making them integral part of town planning process, strict action for the encroachers, etc. is also being emphasized to the State Governments by this Ministry, from time to time.

Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)- Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) scheme has multiple objectives like expanding cultivable area under assured irrigation by improvement and restoration of water bodies thereby increasing the storage capacity of tanks and revival of lost irrigation potential, improving water use efficiency, ground water recharge, increased availability of drinking water, improvement of catchment of tank commands etc. Water bodies included under the scheme are encroachment free. Under the RRR of Water Bodies scheme, since 12th plan onwards, 2,228 schemes are ongoing with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,909.67 crore. Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 476.33 crore has been released to States upto January, 2022. Further, 1,591 water bodies have been reported to be completed upto January, 2022. Target irrigation potential restoration of these schemes is 1.89 lakh hectare and out of this, 1.32 lakh hectare is reported to be restored till January, 2022.

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.

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

 

ANNEXURE I

State-wise number of water bodies and number of encroachments reported in the first Census of Water bodies (Provisional)

 

S.No.	States/UTs	Total number of water bodies reported	Total number of encroachments reported
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
1	ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS	3,528	59
2	ANDHRA PRADESH	1,90,777	3,920
3	ARUNACHAL PRADESH	993	0
4	ASSAM	1,72,492	13
5	BIHAR	45,793	871
6	CHANDIGARH	188	0
7	GOA	1,463	8
8	GUJARAT	54,069	22
9	HARYANA	14,898	50
10	HIMACHAL PRADESH	88,017	42
11	JHARKHAND	1,07,598	560
12	KERALA	55,734	111
13	MANIPUR	1,658	6
14	MEGHALAYA	13,332	6
15	MIZORAM	2,185	7
16	NAGALAND	1,432	1
17	PUDUCHERRY	1,171	34
18	PUNJAB	16,012	1,578
19	SIKKIM	134	0
20	TAMIL NADU	1,06,957	8,366
21	TELENGANA	64,056	3,032
22	UTTARAKHAND	3,096	5

 

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BY/AS

 

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