Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various GW recharge structures for the different terrain conditions of the country. The plan aims to construct approximately 1.42 crore such structures across India, potentially harnessing about 185 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) of rainwater. This involves identifying state and region-specific GW conservation related interventions suitable to local conditions like existing status of ground water resources, average rainfall, rock and soil structure etc.

The plan has been shared with all state governments for taking up appropriate field interventions in convergence with schemes like MGNREGS, PMKSY and other state schemes and hence no specific fund has been allotted for this purpose.

However, the Central Ground Water Board has taken up construction of several artificial recharge structures in many states for demonstrative purpose which can be further scaled up by the state governments. Check dams, Percolation Tanks, Recharge shafts etc. have been constructed in the Aspirational Districts of Warangal, YSR Kadappa and Osmanabad at a total expenditure of Rs.54.38 cr. Innovative recharge cum storage structures like Bridge-cum- Bhandaras have been built in Maharashtra with an expenditure of Rs.30 cr. Further, around 130 anicuts, check dams etc. have been constructed in the water stressed parts of Rajasthan at an expenditure of around Rs. 120 cr.

Moreover, under the umbrella campaign of Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) being implemented by this Ministry, during the period 2021-2025 construction/renovation of 1.14 crore artificial recharge, rain water harvesting and other water conservation structures at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.18 lakh cr have been coordinated across the country in convergence with MGNREGS.

State Governments have been taking up implementation of Master plan as suited to their internal needs. It is not mandatory to have a Nodal agency for its implementation as the structures proposed to be constructed are to be taken up in convergence under several existing central and state schemes. As informed by the government of Punjab, the Soil and Water Conservation department has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of Master plan in the state in the selected priority areas.

The number and type of structures for artificial groundwater recharge that have been recommended under the ‘Master plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater' in the country, including in Punjab, is provided at below. Further, based on the persuasion of this Ministry, most of the States/UTs, including Punjab have taken up the implementation in selected priority areas. However, since the Master plan is only recommendatory in nature, actual construction of structures in the field may vary in terms of location, size, type etc. as felt appropriate by the implementing agency. As per the information received, the Water Resources Department, Punjab has constructed 236 injection wells, 425 check dams, 2556 soak pits, 123 new ponds and 5 Khambati wells, spread across all the districts of Punjab, most of which are as guided by the Master plan.

As per the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water, it is estimated that approximately 185 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) of monsoon rainfall can be harnessed across the country. The State/UT-wise estimated rainwater harvesting potential through the proposed structures is provided at below.

The operation and maintenance of constructed structures falls in the purview of respective states which have to ensure that such structures are duly cleaned, maintained and repaired from time to time.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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MAM/SMP

(Lok Sabha US Q860)

(Release ID: 2147822)