Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3028, answered on August 7, 2025, regarding demonstrative recharge projects undertaken under the Groundwater Management and Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme. It details the projects, funds allocated and disbursed, improvements in groundwater levels, and technological upgrades implemented by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). The scheme, initiated in 2018, aims to demonstrate artificial recharge techniques replicable by state governments.
Key Points / Main Content:
Demonstrative Recharge Projects:
* The CGWB has implemented artificial recharge projects since 2018 under the GWM&R Scheme for demonstrative purposes.
* Annexure I provides state, district, and year-wise details of these projects, including those in Andhra Pradesh.
* Projects involve structures like check dams, percolation tanks, subsurface barriers, recharge shafts, and Bridge cum Bandhara (BCB).
Funding:
* Annexure II outlines state-wise and project-wise funds allocated and released for the recharge projects.
* Funds were allocated to Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Rajasthan.
Groundwater Level Improvement:
* Post-monsoon water levels in 2024 were compared with the average of the previous five years (2018-2023) to assess the impact.
* Significant rises in groundwater levels were observed in project areas in Osmanabad (Maharashtra), Pulivendula (Andhra Pradesh), Bachennapet (Telangana), Amravati and Wardha (Maharashtra) and water-stressed districts of Rajasthan.
Technological Upgrades:
* The Ministry/CGWB has upgraded technological infrastructure for groundwater monitoring, aquifer mapping, and resource assessment.
* Developed the "India Groundwater Resource Estimation System" (IN GRES), a GIS-based web platform, with IIT Hyderabad for groundwater resource estimation.
* Utilizes "Groundwater Resources Assessment for Strategic Planning" (GRASP) software for data management.
* Expanding the Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) network with 7,000 additional piezometers.
* 14 out of 16 CGWB chemical laboratories are now NABL accredited and equipped with advanced instruments.
Impact Analysis:
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring the Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme, undertaking artificial recharge projects, upgrading technological infrastructure, and assessing groundwater resources.
* Action Required: Continue implementing recharge projects, monitor their impact on groundwater levels, and utilize upgraded technologies for improved resource assessment and policy interventions.
State Governments:
* Impact: Expected to replicate and scale up demonstrative recharge projects undertaken by CGWB.
* Action Required: Replicate and scale up successful demonstrative recharge projects, and utilize data and resources provided by CGWB for groundwater management.
Citizens in Project Areas:
* Impact: Benefit from improved groundwater availability and quality due to recharge projects.
* Action Required: Participate in and support local water conservation efforts and recharge initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for artificial recharge projects.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): The organization responsible for implementing the Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme and undertaking artificial recharge projects.
Andhra Pradesh: One of the states where demonstrative recharge projects were undertaken under the Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme.
Maharashtra: One of the states where demonstrative recharge projects were undertaken under the Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme, including the Bridge cum Bandhara project in Amravati and Wardha districts.
Telangana: One of the states where demonstrative recharge projects were undertaken under the Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme.
Rajasthan: One of the states where demonstrative recharge projects were undertaken under the Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme, specifically in the water-stressed districts of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, Alwar, Jhunjhunu and Sikar.
IIT Hyderabad: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad collaborated with CGWB to develop the India Groundwater Resource Estimation System.
India Groundwater Resource Estimation System (IN GRES): A GIS-based web platform developed by CGWB in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad for estimation of groundwater resources.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3028
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
DEMONSTRATIVE RECHARGE PROJECTS
3028. SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI SHRI BASTIPATI NAGARAJU
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of demonstrative recharge projects undertaken under the Groundwater Management
and Regulation Scheme, year and State-wise including district-wise for Andhra Pradesh;
(b) the details of the funds sanctioned and disbursed for such recharge projects, State-wise;
(c) the details of the improvement observed in groundwater levels through such projects, State and
project-wise; and
(d) the number of infrastructures technologically upgraded thereunder, State-wise along with the funds
allocated and disbursed for the same?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWM &R) Scheme is a continuing Central Sector
Scheme, being implemented by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). Under this scheme, CGWB
has taken up various artificial recharge projects in the country since 2018 onwards, mainly for
demonstrative purpose, which can be replicated and scaled up by the state governments. The
State/District-wise and Year-wise details of demonstrative recharge projects undertaken under the
Groundwater Management and Regulation Scheme, including in the state of Andhra Pradesh are
provided in Annexure –I.
(b) State-wise and project-wise funds allocated and released towards the above works is provided in
Annexure –II.
(c) To assess the impact of recharge structures taken up under various projects, post monsoon water
levels for the year 2024 of the respective project implementation Block/District was compared with
average post monsoon water level of previous five years from 2018-2023.
In the 3 Blocks covered under the Artificial Recharge work in Aspirational Districts project,
the percentage of monitored wells showing rise in ground water levels in post monsoon 2024
1vis’-a-vis’ post monsoon mean of previous five years, are 80% in Osmanabad (Maharashtra),
100% in Pulivendula (Andhra Pradesh) and 100% in Bachennapet (Telangana), respectively.
In Maharashtra, where Bridge cum Bandhara (BCB) project was implemented, analysis shows
that 100% of the monitored wells have shown rise in Amravati district whereas in Wardha
district, rises were observed in 100% of wells in Karanja and Samudrapur Blocks, 88.9% in
Seloo Block, and 80% in Deoli Block.
Further, in the water stressed districts of Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, Alwar, Jhunjhunu and
Sikar of Rajasthan, analysis indicates that about 55% of the wells monitored across the said
districts have registered rise in ground water levels.
(d) Several proactive steps have been taken by the Ministry/CGWB for upgradation of technological
infrastructure for better ground water regime monitoring, aquifer mapping and resource assessment
which are playing a pivotal role in improved and precise policy interventions. Some of the important
ones are mentioned below :
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad, has developed a
GIS-based web platform called the "India Groundwater Resource Estimation System" (IN-
GRES) for estimation of groundwater resources and visualization of the results of
groundwater assessments. Utilizing this platform, the Groundwater Resource Assessment for
all States and Union Territories is now being carried out annually.
GRASP (Groundwater Resources Assessment for Strategic Planning) is a specialized software
developed to support comprehensive monitoring, analysis and assessment of groundwater
data. This is used for comprehensive data base management of water levels, water quality and
lithological logs etc.
CGWB has stepped up the widening of its Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) network,
by taking up construction of 7,000 additional piezometers equipped with DWLRs in the entire
country under the PIB approved project for NAQUIM data generation for real time
monitoring and dissemination of ground water data, helping in more refined policy
interventions.
Out of 16 Chemical laboratories of CGWB, 14 have become NABL accredited now and have
been equipped with state of the art instruments like ICPMS, IRMS etc. for advanced testing of
ground water parameters.
All the above works have been done by CGWB under the budget allocation made to it under
GWM&R scheme and no funds have been allocated/released to the state governments.
***
2ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3028
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2025 REGARDING “DEMONSTRATIVE
RECHARGE PROJECTS”.
Details of demonstrative recharge projects undertaken under the Groundwater Management
and Regulation Scheme, including the state of Andhra Pradesh
S. State District/Block Year Structures
N.
1. Andhra YSR Kadapa 2018- 16 Check dams, 4 Percolation tanks, 01
Pradesh (Pulivendula) 2020 Sub-surface barriers, 36 Recharge shaft
& 12 Piezometers.
2. Maharashtra Osmanabad (Osmanabad) 2018- 55 Check Dams, 20 Piezometers & 46
2020 Recharge wells.
Wardha & Amravati 2018- 05 Bridge cum Bhandhara (BCB)
2020
3. Telangana Warangal(Bachennapet) 2018- 6 Check dams, 1 Sub-Subsurface barrier and
2020 31 Recharge shaft & 9 Piezometers.
4. Rajasthan Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer, 2019- 01 Concrete Gravity Dam, 01 Zoned Earth
Alwar, Jhunjhunu and Sikar onwards fill Dam, 132 Water Harvesting Structures
which includes Stone Masonary Check Dams
(MCD), Anicuts, Concrete Check Dams
(CCD), Model Talab & Recharge shafts.
3ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3028
TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2025 REGARDING “DEMONSTRATIVE
RECHARGE PROJECTS”.
State-wise funds allocated and released towards demonstrative recharge projects
S. No State Project Fund Allocated Funds
Released
1 Andhra Pradesh
Maharashtra Artificial Recharge work in Aspirational
Districts Rs. 54.38 Cr. Rs. 41.25 Cr.
Telangana
2 Maharashtra Construction of Bridge Cum Bandhara(BCB) Rs. 30.29 Cr Rs. 27.89 Cr
in Maharashtra
3 Rajasthan Groundwater Augmentation through Rs. 168.77 Cr Rs. 112.44 Cr
Artificial Recharge in water stressed areas of
Rajasthan
*****
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