Parliament Question: Drinking water crisis and groundwater levels in Rajasthan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 253 ANSWERED ON 02/02/2026 DRINKING WATER CRISIS AND GROUNDWATER LEVELS IN RAJASTHAN 253 # SHRI MADAN RATHORE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of the severe drinking water crisis and declining groundwater levels in the State of Rajasthan;

(b) the funds released and the number of projects sanctioned under the Jal Jeevan Mission and Atal Bhujal Yojana in Rajasthan, district-wise details thereof;

(c) whether many villages are still dependent on water tankers for availability of drinking water, if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) the steps taken in the State for groundwater conservation, rainwater harvesting and the rejuvenation of traditional water sources; and

(e) the timeline for providing 100 per cent functional household tap connections to all rural households in Rajasthan? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) to (d) To enable every rural household in the country, including those in the state of Rajasthan, to have assured potable water, in adequate quantity of prescribed quality on regular and long-term basis, through tap water connection, since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with states, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal.

At the start the Mission, only 11.74 lakh (10.90%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Rajasthan. So far, as reported by state as on 28.01.2026, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, around 50.90 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 28.01.2026, out of 107.73 lakh rural households in the state, around 62.64 lakh (58.15%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes and works for the remaining are at various stages of implementation.

As informed by Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (D/o WR, RD and GR), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) monitors groundwater levels throughout the country including Rajasthan on a regional scale, four times in every year during Page 1 of 3the months of March/April/May, August, November and January. The district-wise water level measured for Post-Monsoon 2025 during November 2025 indicate that about 49.1% of the analysed wells have shallower water level mostly in the range of 0-10 mbgl (meter below ground level) while about 50.9 % of the analysed wells have water level deeper than 10 mbgl.

To assess the long-term fluctuation, the water level data collected by CGWB during November 2025 has been compared with the decadal mean of November (2015-2024) which indicated that about 70.4% of the analyzed wells exhibit rising water levels, whereas about 29.4% of the analyzed wells show declining water levels.

As drinking water being a state subject, under JJM, responsibilities for planning, approval, implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes lie with State/ UT governments. Government of India supplements the efforts of the State/ UT government by providing technical and financial assistance. The details of villages being provided drinking water through water tankers are maintained at state government level. Further, project-wise details of individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply projects; District-wise fund allocations under JJM, and details thereof are not maintained at JJM-IMIS. However, year-wise details of Central fund allocated, fund drawn and fund utilization reported by the state of Rajasthan since 2019-20 is as under:

(Amount in Rs. Crore) Central Expenditure Opening Fund Fund Available Reported under State Year Balance allocated released Fund utilization share 2019-20 313.67 1,301.71 1,301.71 1,615.38 620.31 702.35 2020-21 995.07 2,522.03 630.51 1,625.58 762.04 815.90 2021-22 863.53 10,180.50 2,345.08 3,208.61 1,919.83 1,693.61 2022-23 1,288.79 13,328.60 6,081.80 7,370.59 3,937.70 4,123.31 2023-24 3,432.89 3,019.94 250.00 3,682.89 2,898.54 3,904.64 2024-25 784.35 11,061.46 1,659.22 2,443.57 2,212.99 3,171.90

Source: JJM-IMIS As informed by D/o WR, RD and GR, Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) was a pilot scheme for community led participatory groundwater management, implemented in priority water stressed areas across 8,203 priority water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 blocks in 80 districts of seven states viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

In Rajasthan, this scheme was implemented in 1132 Gram Panchayats (GPs) of 38 Blocks in 17 districts viz. Ajmer, Alwar, Baran, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Dausa, Dholpur, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Karauli, Kota, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur and Sikar.

Under ABY, District-wise fund release is not made. The details of activities / works done in

Rajasthan in areas covered under the Atal Bhujal Yojana are as under:

Page 2 of 3Number of Monitoring Mapping Area brought Number of Number Water Number Number Gram of wells of existing under supply-side of Quality of Rain of Panchayat water efficient structures Piezomet monitori Gauge Digital level conservati water-use constructed/ ers ng Stations Water Trainings on and practices like renovated construct through installed Level conducted artificial drip, (like check ed Field Recorde recharge sprinklers, dams, Testing rs structures crop ponds, Kit installed diversificatio recharge n etc. shafts, etc.) (in Hectares) 17,310 17,685 19,693 89,969.90 17,223 759 61,912 1132 976 As stated above, water being a state subject, aspects related to water resources including its conservation and management are studied, planned, funded and executed by the state governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. Role of the Government of India is limited to being catalytic, providing technical support and in some cases partial financial assistance in terms with the existing schemes being implemented by the D/o WR, RD and GR. However, various steps have been taken to address water scarcity issues in the country including Rajasthan.

As informed by the DoWR, RD & GR, initiatives such as the National Aquifer Mapping

(NAQUIM) and the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge (2020) encourage the implementation of rainwater harvesting structures. Additionally, the Central Ground Water Authority regulates groundwater usage and mandates rainwater harvesting in critical zones to ensure sustainable water management. National Water Policy has been formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.

DoWR, RD & GR along with the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments, conducts annual assessments of India’s dynamic groundwater resources.

CGWB has prepared a Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 in consultation with States/UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including State of Rajasthan. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 9.56 lakh recharge structures, including check dams, percolation tank, recharge shafts, ponds, etc. Apart from this, the important steps taken by the central government to promote

rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge in the country including Rajasthan can be seen at:

https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2024/07/202407

16706354487.pdf

(e) To complete the ongoing works, including those in the State of Rajasthan, Hon'ble Finance Minister during her budget speech 2025-26 announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission until

2028. ***** Page 3 of 3