Decline in Availability of Fresh Drinking Water

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources, including rural drinking water supply, are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. To supplement the efforts of the States for rural water supply, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a centrally sponsored scheme, is being implemented in partnership with States, since August, 2019 for provisioning of potable tap water supply to every rural household of the country, by 2024.

At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission, 3.23 Crore rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, 7.43 Crore households have been provided with tap water connections since launch of the Mission. Thus, as on 06.12.2022, out of 19.35 Crore rural households in the country, around 10.66 Crore (55.10%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Apart from continuous efforts for rejuvenation of natural sources of water through campaigns such as the Jal Shakti Abhiyaan launched in 2019 and carried out subsequently in 2021 and 2022 too and the Atal Bhujal Yojana etc., storage capacities for water are augmented through construction of reservoirs. As per the National Register of Large Dams (2019 edition) compiled by Central Water Commission (CWC), based on the information provided by the project authorities, there are 5334 nos. of completed large dams and 411 nos. of large dams are under construction in the country.

Water Resources Projects are planned, funded, executed, and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priority.  However, to supplement their efforts, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources through various schemes and programmes. Details of such efforts are annexed.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Annexure

1.Jal Shakti Abhiyan-I

Jal Shakti Abhiyan -I (JSA-I) was launched in 2019 in 1592 blocks out of 2836 blocks in 256 water stressed districts of the country to promote water conservation and water resource management by focusing on accelerated implementation of five target interventions, viz. water conservation & rain water harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, reuse and recharge of bore wells, watershed development and intensive afforestation. With this campaign, huge awareness has been generated and various stakeholders have started taking steps for water conservation.

The Phase-I started on 1^st July and was completed on the 30^th September 2019. The Phase-II started on 1^st October and was completed on the 30^th November 2019.

Interventions Progress under JSA-I was as under:-

State/UT-wise information is not available.

2. Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign

National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti took up the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA:CTR) with the theme “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls” to cover all the blocks of all districts (rural as well as urban areas) across the country during 22nd March 2021 to 30th November 2021 – the pre-monsoon and monsoon period.The “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain” campaign was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 22 March 2021, the World Water Day.

JSA:CTR campaign had five focused interventions- (1) rainwater harvesting & water conservation (2) enumerating, geo-tagging & making inventory of all water bodies; preparation of scientific plans for water conservation (3) Setting up Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts (4) intensive afforestation and (5) awareness generation.

The progress of the campaign as uploaded on JSA:CTR Portal as on 28.03.2022 are as follows:-

1. Water Conservation & Rainwater Harvesting Structures: 16,22,957; (ii) Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies: 2,96,958; (iii) Reuse and Recharge Structures: 8,31,961; (iv) Watershed Development: 19,18,395; (v) Intensive Afforestation: 36,75,68,460; and Training Programmes/ Kisan Melas: 43,631. The above details include completed as well as ongoing works. Actual expenditure from MGNREGS funds was Rs. 65,666 crore. States/UTs have also been directed to utilised their own resources.
2. As reported by the Ministry of Rural Development, more than 2.03 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) out of the 2.69 lakh GPs have prepared water conservation plans.
3. 15.32 lakh water bodies have been enumerated with its details like its latitude and longitude, ownership, state of health, photos etc under the campaign.
4. Over 16.67 lakh photos on the activities undertaken/works done under the campaign have been uploaded on the portal.

3. Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain – 2022 campaign

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA:CTR) – 2022 has been launched by Hon’ble President on 29.03.2022 in all districts (rural as well as urban areas) of the country with the main theme “Catch the Rain, where it falls, when it falls” The campaign may be implemented from 29 March, 2022 to 30 November, 2022 – the pre-monsoon and monsoon period in the country.

The focused interventions of the campaign include (1) water conservation and rainwater harvesting which may include making of roof-top Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS) on buildings and water harvesting pits in compounds; maintenance of existing RWHS & creation of new check dams/ponds; renovation of traditional WHS; removal of encroachments of tanks/lakes and in their catchment channels; de-silting of tanks, reuse and recharge of bore wells; watershed development; rejuvenation of small rivers and rivulets; revival of wetlands and protection of flood-banks, spring shed development, protection of water catchment areas etc; (2) enumerating, geo-tagging & making inventory of all water bodies; preparation of scientific plans for water conservation based on it (3) Setting up of Jal Shakti Kendrasin all districts (4) intensive afforestation and (5) awareness generation.

The progress of the works completed and ongoing as on 18.11.022 as uploaded on JSA:CTR Portal from 29.03.2022 to 18.11.2022 is as follows:

(i) Water Conservation and RWH: 10,21,204 (ii) Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies: 2,26,924 (iii) Reuse and Recharge Structures: 6,83,289 (iv) Watershed Development: 12,69,827 (v)  Intensive Afforestation: 72,58,92,603 (vi) Number of Jal Shakti Kendra established: 606 (vii) Number of water conservation plans uploaded: 256.

4.  Involvement of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)

NWM tied up with Department of Youth Affairs to spread awareness to cover 31,150 villages in 623 districts on JSA:CTR campaign using the vast network of Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and its youth clubs. The awareness generation drive by NYKS started in December 2020, formed the foundation of the massive involvement of the people in the JSA:CTR campaign. NYKS have engaged over 2.90 crore people in 23.86 lakh activities in the campaign through their many activities like rallies, Jal Choupals, quizzes, debates, slogan writing competitions, wall writings etc. The power of the youth of the country was tapped by involving Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan (NYKS) to sensitize the populace on different aspects of water management. Involvement of NYKS is extended in the JSA:CTR 2022 also to carry out their activities through their network in the country.

5. Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE)

The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) has been set up under the administrative control of Deptt. of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation vide office order No. 738/2022 dated 20.10.2022 for promotion, regulation and control of efficient use of water in irrigation, industrial and domestic sector . The Bureau will be a facilitator for promotion of improving water use efficiency across various sectors namely irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, industries, etc. in the country.

6. Atal Bhujal Yojana

Government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana in select water stressed areas of 7 States namely, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with an aim to community led sustainable ground water management. The total cost of the scheme is Rs. 6000 Rs. and the implementation period is from 2020-2025.

Under this scheme, communities are being mobilized and made aware regarding ground water situation in their area through focused IEC, training and awareness activities, which leads to preparation of water budget and Water Security Plans (WSPs). These WSPs contain various supply side interventions such as construction of check dams, farm ponds, various artificial recharge structures etc. and demand side interventions such as use of micro irrigation, pipes for irrigation, crop diversification etc. The proposed interventions are being implemented in the field through convergence of various Central/State schemes by line departments. Atal Bhujal Yojana is complementary to Jal Jeevan Mission, in the sense that this scheme, through its approach, aims at source sustainability of water for drinking as well as agriculture purposes.

7. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched by Government of India during the 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. it is the umbrella scheme with  the  motto   of  providing ‘Har Khet  Ko  Pani’  ensuring access  to  some means of  protective irrigation  to all agricultural farms  in the country, to produce ‘per drop more  crop’,  thus  bringing much desired rural prosperity.

The overreaching vision of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is to ensure access to some means of protective irrigation for all agricultural farms in the country, and to produce ‘per drop more crop’, thus bringing the much desired rural prosperity.   The objective of the scheme is to lead to substantial increase in agricultural production and productivity thereby enhancing farm income.

Most of the projects under PMKSY-AIBP are multipurpose projects which also has drinking water component in general.

Under the PMKSY-AIBP, Ninety-Nine (99) ongoing Major/Medium Irrigation projects (and 7 phases) spread in 17 States and two Union Territories (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) were prioritised  with an estimated balance cost of Rs. 77,595 crore (Central share-Rs. 31,342 crore; Sate share- Rs 46,253 crore) to complete them in a time bound manner. Out of 99 projects and 7 phases (total -106), 50 MMI projects have been reported as completed as on date,the details of State wise projects included and completed is enclosed at Annexure-I.

7.1 Extension of PMKSY-AIBP

PMKSY-AIBP (including CADWM) scheme was valid till March, 2021. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantra Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021 to 2026 with an outlay of Rs. 93,068.00 crore including Rs. 37,454 crore Central Assistance to States. Under the continuing scheme it is planned to provide financial assistance for completion of 60 ongoing Major/Medium Irrigation projects under PMKSY-AIBP, 85 ongoing CADWM projects and financial assistance to new Major/Medium irrigation projects including ERM projects.  Five new projects have been included in the scheme.  Besides these projects, three other projects have been recommended by the Screening Committee for PMKSY-AIBP for inclusion under PMKSY.

7.2 Special Package to Maharashtra          

Government of India has sanctioned a special package for completion of Irrigation Projects to address agrarian distress in Vidarbha and Marathwada and other chronically drought prone areas of Rest of Maharashtra in 2018. The package consists of 8 Major and Medium Irrigation (MMI) Projects and 83 Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) Projects.

7.3 Relining of Sirhind Feeder and Rajasthan Feeder of Panjab           

Govt. of India has also sanctioned the relining/reviving of Rajasthan Feeder for 96.00 Km and Sirhind Feeder for 100.00 Km for the States of Punjab and Rajasthan during the year 2016 to address the problems of seepage and water-logging in the most vulnerable reaches for estimated cost of Rs. 1833.497 Crore (works) at 2015 price level.

Besides irrigation, Sirhind Feeder provides drinking water to some areas in the states of Punjab and Rajasthan. Rajasthan Feeder is exclusively meant for providing water to the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project serving the command lying in the territory of Rajasthan state. Besides irrigation, Rajasthan Feeder provides drinking water in the state of Rajasthan.

8. Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies

The scheme envisages comprehensive improvement of selected tank systems including de-silting of water bodies, improvement of catchment areas of tank commands, increase in storage capacity of water bodies, ground water recharge, improvement in agriculture, horticulture productivity, and development of tourism, cultural activities and increased availability of drinking water. Presently this scheme is part of Har Khet Ko Pani(HKKP) component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

9. Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) Scheme

Under this scheme financial assistance is provided to the identified minor irrigation (irrigation potential less than 2,000 hectare) projects in respect of special category States. Subsequently the scheme was extended to areas covering DPAP, Tribal, DDP, Flood prone, Left Wing Extremism and Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi (KBK) region of Odisha, Bundelkhand region of UP and MP &Marathwada&Vidharbha region of Maharashtra. Main objective of SMI schemes is to expand cultivable area under assured irrigation.Presently this scheme is also part of HarKhetKoPani(HKKP) component of PradhanMantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (PMKSY).

State-wise No of WBs included, completed, CA released & potential achieved under the Scheme RRR of Water Bodies and similar details for scheme of SMI are enclosed at Annexure–II &Annexure–IIIrespectively.

10. National Projects     

Government of India approved a scheme of National Projects for implementation during XI Plan with a view to expedite completion of identified National Projects for the benefit of the people. National projects are provided financial assistance for cost of irrigation & drinking water component in the form of central grant.

The Government of India has included total 16 Projects under the scheme of National Project, out of which 8 are under execution. Details of the storage of aforesaid 16 National Projects are attached at Annexure-IV.

Annexure-I

Annexure-IV

LIST OF NATIONAL PROJECTS

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