Water being a State subject, the issues related to development, regulation and management of ground water is primarily the responsibility of the state governments. The Central Government provides technical support and financial assistance through its institutions to complement the efforts of the states. In this regard, the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) is implementing several projects and schemes to continuously monitor and improve the ground water levels in the country whose brief outline is given below:

1. MoJS is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) since 2019 in the country in which special emphasis is being given for rainwater harvesting (RWH)/ groundwater recharge. Currently, JSA 2025 is underway in the country with special focus on over-exploited and critical districts. JSA is implemented through local convergence of various schemes and funds and some of the major interventions undertaken under the Abhiyan include construction and repair of rainwater harvesting structures including rooftop & water conservation structures.
2. To further strengthen the momentum of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: A Community-Driven Path to Water Sustainability in India has been launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister with a vision to make rain water harvesting a mass movement in the country. By promoting community ownership and responsibility, the initiative seeks to develop cost-effective, local solutions tailored to specific water challenges across different regions.
3. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing ‘Ground Water Management & Regulation Scheme’(GWM&R), of which regular monitoring of ground water levels and quality throughout the country and judicious ground water regulation are important pillars. Further, after the successful completion of NAQUIM 1.0 (National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme), which mapped country's aquifers and provided a macro-level understanding of our nation's groundwater resources, CGWB has now embarked upon NAQUIM 2.0 focusing on water stressed and quality affected pockets.
4. M/o Jal Shakti has successfully demonstrated the efficacy of community led participatory ground water management through Atal Bhujal Yojana which was implemented in 80 water stressed districts in 7 States. Construction of various rain water harvesting and recharge structures like check dams, ponds, shafts etc. as well as promotion of micro irrigation was taken up through convergence and by use of incentive funds under the scheme.
5. Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA & FW) is implementing Per Drop More Crop Scheme since 2015-16 which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation leading to conservation of ground water.
6. For sustainable management of ground water resources in urban areas, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has come up with Shallow Aquifer Management (SAM) project to explore and showcase different ways in which shallow aquifers can be rejuvenated in order to augment the overall water security of cities.
7. In addition to the above, a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting. Some of them can be mentioned as ‘Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan’ in Rajasthan, ‘JalyuktShibar’ in Maharashtra, ‘SujalamSufalam Abhiyan’ in Gujarat, ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in Telangana, 'Neeru Chettu’ in Andhra Pradesh, 'Jal Jeevan Hariyali' in Bihar, ‘Jal Hi Jeevan’ in Haryana, 'Kudimaramath' scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.

 

Regarding deepening/rejuvenating the water bodies for increasing the storage capacity:

1. Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched by the Government of India which aimed at developing and rejuvenating at least 75 water bodies in each district of the country. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/ rejuvenated, augmenting storage and increasing ground water recharge.
2. Centrally sponsored scheme “Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies (WBs)” is a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) being implemented by Ministry of Jal Shakti under which works like cleaning of traditional water bodies is taken up.
3. Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase-I implemented during 2012-2021 had provision for need-based de-siltation of reservoirs to restore their lost capacity to the extent possible. Currently, the DRIP Phase II and III scheme (2021-2031) is being implemented wherein too provision has been made for need based de-siltation of the reservoirs.
4. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs is currently implementing Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 Scheme under which Rejuvenation of water bodies and wells in urban areas is one of the main components. Mission promotes water source conservation, recycle/ reuse of treated used water by involving community at large.
5. Under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), works relating to water conservation and water harvesting, including large scale desiltation projects for traditional water bodies, rejuvenation of river stretches etc. have been conducted by various state governments.

 

The Ministry is constantly exploring and harnessing new technologies for cleaning of rivers and water bodies. Under the Namami Gange programme of the Ministry, various innovative and new technologies have been adopted based on regulatory requirements and site conditions. The following are some of the important technologies being employed:

• Multi-storey Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
• Nature-based sewage treatment using Constructed Wetlands
• Packaged Sewage Treatment Plant – 'Johkasou‘
• Advance Oxidation Process (AOP)
• Electrocoagulation
• Mandatory Tertiary Treatment by filtration and disinfection to achieve the stringent norms for river revival.

 

The 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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ND

(Lok Sabha US Q706)

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