MANAGEMENT OF GROUND WATER

Water being State subject, groundwater management is regulated by the states as per extant Central/ State guidelines promulgated/issued from time to time. However, some of the framework/guidelines notified/issued by the Central Government are as under:

1. 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 guidelines in this regard, with pan-India applicability, were notified by the Ministry on 24 September 2020 with subsequent amendment on 29 March 2023. 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. The guidelines also include provisions for groundwater management in agriculture sector. The detailed guidelines are available at the weblink: https://cgwa-noc.gov.in/LandingPage/Guidelines.htm
2. Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 21 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the Model ground water legislations with certain modifications suiting to their needs.
3. Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL) 2016 circulated by Ministry of Housing &Urban Affairs include provisions for Rainwater Harvesting and it has been shared with all the States/ UTs. So far, 35 States/UTs have adopted the provisions of rainwater harvesting of MBBL-2016.

Water being a State subject, effective rainwater harvesting/recharge of groundwater including taking up groundwater projects for its sustainable management in the country falls under States’ mandate. However, a number of steps have been taken by Central government which can be accessed through web-link https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2023/02/2023021742.pdf

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(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 President of India on 04 March 2023 with the theme “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”.Central Government is generally utilizing the funds available under MGNREGA and PMKSY-Watershed development component for supporting the JSA.
2. 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. Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), a Rs. 6000 crore Central Sector Scheme, is being implemented by the Ministry for sustainable management of ground water resources which include activities like preparation of water security plan at Gram Panchayat level in participatory mode by involving communities to use available groundwater and surface water in an efficient manner. The scheme is being taken up in select areas that include 80 districts, 229 administrative blocks and 8220 water stressed Gram Panchayats of seven States, viz. Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from 01.04.2020.This is first scheme of its kind which involve community-based planning, monitoring, sharing and use of groundwater data, capacity building of all stake-holders, community led groundwater management through a combination of demand side and supply side management.
4. Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWM&R) scheme is a continuing central sector scheme being implemented in the country by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Major activities being taken up under the scheme include aquifer mapping (NAQUIM) for the entire country and other activities of CGWB such as ground water level and quality monitoring on regular basis, 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.
5. National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) which has been implemented with the objectives to delineate and characterize the aquifers and develop plans for ground water management. The entire mappable area of the country (around 25 lakh sq km) has been covered under the programme. The details have been shared with States/UTs for suitable interventions. State-wise details in this regard is given at Annexure I.
6. The GWM&R scheme has a small component for artificial groundwater recharge which is demonstrative in nature. During the last 04 years, CGWB has taken up three demonstrative artificial recharge projects under the scheme, details of the funds allocated are given at Annexure II.

Atal Bhujal Yojana is a Central Sector scheme which is being implemented in collaboration with World Bank to strengthen demand side management of ground water.

Further, CGWB has prepared “Empowering Village Communities for A Sustainable Water Future: A Resource Book for village level para-hydrogeologists” jointly with MARVI (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention) partners which, inter-alia, include Western Sydney University, Australia, CSIRO Land & Water, Australia, Arid Communities and Technologies, Bhuj and Development Support Center, Ahmedabad. This is a step which is likely to help facilitate participation of village communities in ground water resource management including adequate awareness generation, ensuring a sustainable water future.

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

ANNEXURE- I

ANNEXURE –II

The details of the funds sanctioned by CGWB during last four years under GWM&R Scheme for the construction of demonstrative rain water harvesting structures

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