Steps taken by Union Government for Sustainable Ground Water Management

Water being State subject, initiatives on water management including conservation of water in the country is primarily States’ responsibility. Central Government supports the State Governments by providing technical and financial support. The Government has taken various steps for the conservation of water in the country.

• In order to boost efforts for water conservation and to fight water crisis, Ministry of Jal Shakti has taken up a nationwide campaign Jal Shakti Abhiyan” since 2019. however, the campaign could not be taken up in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain” (JSA:CTR) campaign has been taken up as an annual programme since 2021 with the theme Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” for creating appropriate rainwater harvesting structures in urban and rural areas of all the districts in the country, with people’s active participation, during the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods. JSA:CTR 2022 campaign has been taken up during 29.03.2022 to 30.11.2022. 4th in the series, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) 2023 has now been launched on 04.03.2023 by the Hon’ble President of India.

Further, Government of India had also launched “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)” in Financial Year 2015-16 with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc.

The other important steps taken by the Central Government for sustainable ground water management including water conservation in the country can be seen at http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central%20Govt%20for%20water_depletion_july2022.pdf.

Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) is one of the component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The scheme of Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies schemes have multiple objectives like expanding cultivable area under assured irrigation by improvement and restoration of water bodies thereby increasing the tank storage capacity and revival of lost irrigation potential, improving water use efficiency, ground water recharge, increased availability of drinking water, improvement of catchment of tank commands etc.

Further, Water Conservation and Rainwater Harvesting is one of the focused interventions of Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign which also includes rejuvenation of traditional water bodies in the country. Since the launch of JSA; CTR 2022 on 29^th March 2022 till 03.03.2023, both urban and rural areas put together, a total of 39,99,431 water related works completed/on-going, in addition to 78,38,36,035 afforestation activities carried out under the campaign.

National Water Policy (2012) inter-alia advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall. It also inter-alia, advocates conservation of river, river bodies and infrastructure should be undertaken in a scientifically planned manner through community participation. The Policy has been forwarded to all State Governments/ UTs and concerned Ministries/Departments of Central Government for adoption. CGWA has advised States/UTs to take measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water/ rain water harvesting.

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