Depletion in Ground Water Level
Ground water is continuously being exploited due to growth in
population, increased industrialization and irrigation and its use being
highly inefficient, has resulted in decline of ground water levels in
various parts of the Country. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under
the Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR carries out ground water
monitoring, four times a year, on regional scale through a network of
observation wells in the Country including Haryana and Punjab. Water
level data for pre-monsoon 2015 compared with decadal mean of
pre-monsoon (2005-2014) indicates decline in ground water level in 47%
of the wells monitored.
A Model Bill on Flood Plain Zoning was circulated to all the States in
1975 for guidance of States for enactment of legislation. The Model
Bill provides for flood zoning authorities, surveys and delineation of
flood plain area, notification of limits of flood plains, prohibition or
restriction of the use of the flood plains, compensation and power to
remove obstruction etc. Govt. of Manipur has enacted flood plain zoning
legislation in 1978, but the demarcation of flood zones has not been
done, as yet. The State of Rajasthan has also enacted legislation. The
State Government of Uttarakhand has also passed Flood Plain Zoning Act
on 16th December, 2012 but the demarcation of flood zones has not been
done, as yet. Some States like Bihar and UP have informed about
difficulties in implementation of Bill due to large flood affected plain
areas. No fund has been allocated / released for mapping of flood
affected areas.
Following steps have been taken to check depletion of river and ground water:-
• CWC has issued an advisory on 12th April, 2016 to the concerned
Engineer-in-Chief of State Governments regarding judicious use of
available water in view of low storage position of reservoirs in 2016.
• As per Schedule-I of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the water conservation and water harvesting
structures to augment ground water constitute a special focus area for
MGNREGA works.
• During XI Plan, Demonstrative Artificial Recharge Projects were taken
up under Central Sector Scheme “Ground Water Management &
Regulation”. The scheme on Artificial Recharge project under Ground
Water Management & Regulation Scheme has been discontinued during
the XII Plan period.
• A conceptual document entitled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to
Ground Water in India” has been prepared during the year 2013, which
envisages construction of different types of Artificial Recharge and
Rainwater Harvesting structures in the Country in an area of 9,41,541
sq.km for harnessing surplus monsoon runoff to augment ground water
resources. The Master Plan has been circulated to all State Governments
for implementation.
• Ministry of Urban Development in its Draft Model Building Bye-Laws
(2015) has incorporated a Chapter on Provision of Rain Water Harvesting.
• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under ‘The
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986’ for the purpose of regulation and
control of ground water development and management has issued advisory
to States/ Union Territories and Ministry of Urban Development to take
necessary measures for adopting rain water harvesting/ artificial
recharge in all the Government buildings. Besides, 30 States/UTs have
made rainwater harvesting mandatory by enacting laws / formulating rules
& regulations / by including provisions in building bye-laws /
through suitable Government Orders etc.
• CGWB has been organizing mass awareness programmes in the Country to
promote rain water harvesting and artificial recharge to ground water.
This information was given by Union Minister for Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti in a written reply
in Lok Sabha today.
Samir/jk
(Release ID :142405)
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