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 changes in water level on a long-term basis, the data collected by CGWB during November 2022 has 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.

However, as per available information, the ground water levels in certain parts of the country 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 State subject, the efforts to address the declining groundwater levels fall under States’ mandate, however, a number of steps has been taken by Central Government in this regard which can be seen at:

https://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for%20water_depletion_july2022.pdf. However, some of them are listed as under.

1. Government of India is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country. First JSA was launched in 2019 in water stressed blocks of 256 districts which continued during the years 2021 and 2022 also (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.

3. The Central Government is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana with an outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore, in collaboration with States, in certain water stressed areas of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The primary aim of the scheme is demand side management through scientific means involving the local communities at village levels leading to sustainable groundwater management in the targeted areas.

4. 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 country. 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.

5. CGWB is implementing National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM) in the country and an area of 25.15 lakh sq km (the available mappable area) has been covered under the NAQUIM studies. The NAQUIM study report along-with management plans are shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions.

6. 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 harvesting. 35 States/ UTs, including Karnataka, have adopted the features of the Bye Laws.

Ground Water Resource Assessment in the country is periodically done by CGWB in collaboration with States/UTs. As per assessment 2022, the total annual ground water recharge for the country is 437.6 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is 5.74 bcm more as compared to the 2017 assessment (431.86 BCM). Further, the annual ground water extraction has been assessed as 239.16 BCM in the 2022 assessment which is approximately 9.53 BCM less as compared to the 2017 assessment (248.69 BCM). The average ‘Stage of Extraction’ for the country as a whole works out to be 60.08 % which is 3.25 % less as compared to 2017 (63.33%).

Further, as per 2022 Assessment, only 14% (i.e. 1006 assessment units) of the total assessment units (i.e. 7,089 assessment units) in the country have been categorised as ‘over exploited’ whereas the 2017 assessment shows that around 17 % assessment units were in over-exploited category. Further, 2022 assessment data when compared with 2017 assessment information indicates that Safe assessment units have increased from 63 % to 67 %.

A detailed analysis indicates improvement in groundwater conditions in 909 assessment units in the country as compared to 2017 assessment.

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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