During May, June and July, 2013 the rainwater received in millimeter  is as under:

                India receives an average rainfall of about 1170 mm which corresponds to an annual  precipitation  of about 4000 billion cubic meters (BCM) including snowfall. After accounting  for evaporation  and evapotranspiration, the average annual water availability  in the country  is assessed  as 1869 BCM.  It is estimated that owing to  topographic, hydrological  and other constraints, the utilizable  water is 1121 BCM which comprises   690 BCM of surface water  and 431 BCM of replenishable  ground water resources. As per the assessment made by Central Water Commission  and Central Ground  Water Board  in 2009  about 450 BCM of water was utilised out of  1121 BCM  and balance water  could be considered to be flowing down to sea.

  The  Union Government promotes rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water in the country by supplementing efforts of the  State Governments for augmentation and water conservation by way of technical and financial support through various schemes. Roof top rain water harvesting has been made mandatory to check the depletion of ground water in the States/Union Territories of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, NCT Delhi and Puducherry. In UT of Andaman & Nicobar, roof top rain water harvesting has been made mandatory in Port Blair Town. In Jharkhand, roof top rain water harvesting has been made mandatory in Ranchi  urban area.

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has also issued the following advisories:

1.                All  the States/Union Territories and Ministry of Urban Development for adopting rain water harvesting/artificial recharge measures.

2.                To all the Residential Group Housing Societies/Institutions/Schools/Hostels/Industrial Establishments falling in the over-exploited and critical areas (except in the water logged areas) in the country to adopt Roof Top Rain Water harvesting systems in their premises.

3.                For implementation of ground water recharge measures along all National Highways, State Highways and other major roads; along rail tracks; in the Stadia and in the Airports for promoting Rain Water Harvesting/adoption of artificial Recharge to Ground Water in the country (except in the water logged areas).

4.                To Chief Secretaries in 12 States and Administrations in 2 Union Territories having Over-exploited blocks to take necessary measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water /rainwater harvesting.

5.                To large and medium industries using ground water in the over exploited and critical areas in the country (except in the water logged areas) to take up water conservation measures including recharge of ground water/rain water harvesting and adopt practices of treatment, recycle and reuse of waste water in their premises.

6.                To Chief Secretaries/Administrators of all the States/Union Territories and Ministry of Urban Development to take necessary action to adopt rain water harvesting/artificial recharge on all the Government buildings.

This information was given by Union Water Resources Minister Shri Harish Rawat  in the Rajya  Sabha today in reply to a written question.

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