Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) is being implemented in 8,565 Gram Panchayats of 80 districts in 7 States, namely, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with an aim to improve community led sustainable ground water management, mainly through convergence among various ongoing Central and State schemes. It also aims at bringing about behavioral change at the community level through awareness programs and capacity building for fostering sustainable ground water management.

Atal Bhujal Yojana is being implemented since 01.04.2020. Status of funds allocated and utilized under this scheme is given below:

(Rs. in crore)

The scheme envisages active participation of the communities and panchayats in the participating States in various activities such as formation/strengthening of Water User Associations, monitoring and disseminating ground water data, water budgeting and preparation of Gram Panchayat-wise Water Security Plans (WSPs) and their implementation. The participation of women in water budgeting and water security planning exercises has been kept at least 33% in the Gram Panchayat-level Water User Associations.

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.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme during XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. The aquifer mapping is aimed to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization for preparation of aquifer/ area specific ground water management plans with community participation. The management plans of district level are shared with the respective State Governments for taking appropriate measures /implementation. So far, out of nearly 25 lakh sq. km. identified area, 20.24 lakh sq. km. has been covered under NAQUIM in the country.

Further, Public Interaction Programs (PIP) are being organised at grass root level for disseminating the tenets of the aquifer management plans as part of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) Programme for the benefit of the stakeholders. So far, 1,038 such programs have been conducted in different parts of the country in which nearly 84,000 people have participated.

Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater - 2020 has been prepared by CGWB in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions. 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 monsoon rainfall.

National Water Mission had launched a campaign ‘Sahi Fasal’ campaign on 14.11.2019 to nudge farmers in the water stressed areas to grow crops which are not water intensive, but use water efficiently, and are economically remunerative.  

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

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BY/AS