Government Focuses on UP, Haryana, and Gujarat to Enhance Groundwater Levels in Seven States
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New Delhi, Dec 19 (NationPress) To avert further decline in groundwater levels, the government is rolling out the Atal Bhujal Yojana, a Central initiative with a total investment of Rs 6,000 crore, aimed at designated water-stressed regions encompassing 8,203 Gram Panchayats (GPs) across 229 blocks in 80 districts of seven states, as revealed in Parliament on Thursday.
The seven states include Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, stated Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil in response to a query in the Lok Sabha.
He noted that the Yojana, which aims to halt the downward trend in groundwater levels through community-driven sustainable management practices, has been in effect since April 1, 2020 and will continue for five years.
Since the scheme's launch, a total of Rs 3,346.91 crore has been allocated to the states, as reported by the Minister.
This initiative emphasizes demand-side management of groundwater by fostering changes in community practices, the Minister explained.
Water Security Plans (WSPs) for each Gram Panchayat include details on water budgeting and proposed demand-side strategies like micro-irrigation, crop diversification, and the use of pipelines, alongside supply-side measures such as check dams, farm ponds, recharge shafts, and various other artificial recharge/water conservation structures, which are developed and implemented through the integration of ongoing schemes, he added.
The Minister also mentioned that the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), operating under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, allocated Rs 202.58 crore for the year 2023-24 to execute the Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme, which encompasses activities related to exploring, monitoring, assessing, and managing groundwater resources, including conservation and artificial recharge interventions throughout the nation.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has undertaken numerous actions aimed at the sustainable management and conservation of water in urban settings by issuing various guidelines and promoting National Missions, including the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0.
