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 long term fluctuation in ground water level, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2002 has been compared with November 2016 data. The results of analysis indicate that, out of 7,233 wells, 3,800 wells (52.5 %) show net rise in water levels and 3,397 wells (47 %) show decline in water level while there is no change of water level in 36 wells (0.5 %).
Ground water levels in some parts of the country are declining because of continuous withdrawal necessitated by increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increase in population, industrialization & urbanization etc. However, the groundwater resource assessment 2022 conducted by CGWB in collaboration with States/UTs indicates improving trend in groundwater scenario in certain parts of the country.
Water being the State subject, the efforts to improve the groundwater scenario including effective rainwater harvesting etc come under States’ mandate. However, Central Government has taken a number of important measures in this regard in the country, which can be seen at :
http://jalshaktidowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%
20for%20water_depletion_july2022.pdf.
Further, Central Government works in close collaboration with States/UTs through various initiatives/schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Atal Bhujal Yojana, MGNREGA, PMKSY-Watershed development etc to supplement the efforts of States/UTs for sustainable management of groundwater. The JSA was launched in 2019 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. The JSA has continued during 2021 and 2022 which were launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble President of India, respectively.
Further, Hon’ble Prime Minister launched Amrit Sarovar Mission on 24th 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.
Several States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting such as ‘Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan’ in Rajasthan, ‘Jalyukt Shibar’ in Maharashtra, ‘Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan’ in Gujarat, ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in Telangana, Neeru Chettu’ in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, ‘Jal Hi Jeevan’ in Haryana, and Kudimaramath scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.
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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AS