Over 61% Wells Monitored By Central Ground Water Board Register Rise In Ground Water Level

 Groundwater levels in certain parts of the country are declining because of continuous withdrawal due to reasons such as increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization and urbanisation.

To have information on groundwater situation for timely interventions, 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 levels, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2022 has been compared with the decadal mean of November (2012-2021). Analysis of water level data indicates that about 61.1% of the wells monitored have registered rise in ground water level.

Further, Water being State subject, the efforts to effectively harvest the rain water including sustainable groundwater management fall under States’ mandate, however, a number of steps has been taken by Central Government in this regard which can be seen at https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2023/02/2023021742.pdf. However, some of them are listed as under.

Government of India is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country in which special emphasis is being given for rainwater harvesting/groundwater recharge. First JSA was launched in 2019 in water stressed blocks of 256 districts which continued during the years 2021, 2022 also (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 the President of India on 04 March 2023 with the theme “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”.

The 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 for rainwater harvesting/recharge.

Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has formulated Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 for the States/UTs. As per MBBL, all buildings having a plot size of 100 Sq.m. or, more shall mandatorily include the complete proposal of rainwater harvesting. 35 States/ UTs have adopted the features of the Bye Laws.

In addition, Several States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/rainwater 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, ‘Pani Bachao Paise Kamao’ scheme in Punjab and ‘Kudimaramath’ scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.

Government of India is actively working on ‘Interlinking of Rivers’ (ILR) program as one of the interventions for sustainable management of water resources in the country. Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) for water transfer from water surplus to water deficit basins, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links (16 under Peninsular component and 14 under Himalayan component). The details of river linking projects and present status are given at Annexure.

Further, the Ken- Betwa Link project (KBLP) is the first link under NPP approved by the Central Government in December 2021 with an estimated cost of Rs 44,605.00 Cr with Central support of Rs 39,317.00 Cr. The project is planned to be completed in a period of 8 years.

 The cooperation of States is paramount in the implementation of ILR projects and thus all efforts are being made by this Department to address the apprehensions/disagreement for water sharing with States so that the these projects are taken to the stage of implementation.

Implementation of Ken-Betwa link project has started because of active consultation/persuasion and its benefits are likely to motivate concerned States to give their consent in implementing other ILR projects.

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

 

ANNEXURE

STATUS OF INTER BASIN WATER TRANSFER LINK SCHEMES UNDER

Peninsular Component

 

PFR – Pre Feasibility Report, FR – Feasibility Report, DPR – Detailed Project Report

* Due to pending consensus on Manibhadra and Inchampalli dams, Alternate study to divert unutilized waters of Godavari river was carried out and DPR of Godavari (Inchampalli/ Janampet) – Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila) – Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link projects completed. Godavari-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link project has been prepared comprising of Godavari (Inchampalli / Janampet) – Krishna (Nagarjunasagar), Krishna (Nagarjunasagar)- Pennar (Somasila) and Pennar(Somasila)-Cauvery(Grand Anicut) link projects.

** Further studies are not taken up since after implementation of Yettinahole project by Govt. of Karnataka, no surplus water is available in Netravati basin for diversion through this link.

 

Himalayan Component

Sl. No.	Name of the Link	Country/ States benefited	Status
1.	Kosi-Mechi link	Bihar & Nepal	PFR completed
2.	Kosi-Ghaghra link	Bihar & U.P & Nepal	Draft FR completed
3.	Gandak – Ganga link	U.P & Nepal	FR completed (Indian portion)
4.	Ghaghra – Yamuna link	U.P & Nepal	FR completed (Indian portion)
5.	Sarda – Yamuna link	U.P & Uttarakhand	FR completed
6.	Yamuna-Rajasthan link	Haryana & Rajasthan	FR completed
7.	Rajasthan-Sabarmati link	Rajasthan & Gujarat	FR completed
8.	Chunar-Sone Barrage link	Bihar & U.P	PFR completed
9.	Sone Dam – Southern Tributaries of Ganga link	Bihar & Jharkhand	PFR completed
10.	Manas-Sankosh-Tista-Ganga (M-S-T-G) link	Assam, W.B & Bihar	FR completed
11.	Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka link (Alternative to M-S-T-G)	Assam, W.B & Bihar	PFR completed (The proposal has been dropped)
12.	Farakka-Sundarbans link	W.B	FR completed
13.	Ganga(Farakka) – Damodar-Subarnarekha link	W.B., Odisha& Jharkhand	FR completed
14.	Subarnarekha-Mahanadi link	W.B. &Odisha	FR completed

PFR – Pre Feasibility Report, FR – Feasibility Report, DPR – Detailed Project Report

*****

AS