Parliament Question: Drinking water security, irrigation and water conservation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3451 ANSWERED ON 23/03/2026 DRINKING WATER SECURITY, IRRIGATION AND WATER CONSERVATION 3451# DR. SANDEEP KUMAR PATHAK:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the number of rural households provided with tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission during the last five years, State-wise and year-wise;

(b) the number of areas experiencing a continuous decline in groundwater levels and the special recharge and conservation schemes implemented for such areas, the details thereof;

(c) the current status of major irrigation projects, along with the reasons for cost escalation and delays, the details thereof; and

(d) the plans formulated for rainwater harvesting, water recycling and efficient water management to address the water crisis arising from climate change, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) to (c) To enable every rural household in the country 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 3.23 Crore (16.7%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 03.03.2026, under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal more than 12.58 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on 03.03.2026, out of around 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, around 15.82 Crore (81.71%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

The Year-wise, State/ UT-wise, District-wise and Village-wise status of tap water connection provided

under the Mission in rural areas is in public domain and available on JJM dashboard at:

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx 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.

Page 1 of 7JJM follows a universal approach for coverage of rural households. Since 2019, 30% weightage has been assigned for difficult terrains which inter alia include areas under Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) while allocating the funds under JJM, to prioritize the coverage in these areas.

Provisions have also been made for planning and implementation of bulk water transfer from long distances and regional water supply schemes for ensuring tap water supply in drought-prone & water- scarce areas/ areas with inadequate rainfall or dependable ground water sources. In addition, provisions have been made for source recharging, viz. dedicated bore well recharge structures, rain water recharge, rejuvenation of existing water bodies, etc., in convergence with other schemes such as VB-G RAM G, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), 15th Finance Commission tied grants to RLBs/ PRIs, State schemes, CSR funds, etc.

Moreover, under JJM, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes.

As per the Operational Guidelines, States/ UTs can utilize up to 2% of their annual allocation of funds under JJM for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQM&S) activities, inter-alia, which includes setting up and strengthening of water quality testing laboratories, procurement of equipment, instruments, chemicals, glassware, consumables, hiring of skilled manpower, surveillance by community using field test kits (FTKs), awareness generation, educational programmes on water quality, accreditation/recognition of laboratories, etc.

In consultation with various stakeholders 'Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households’ has been released in December 2024 for guidance to States/ UT’s. This handbook recommended for a comprehensive testing of drinking water samples at various testing points such as source, treatment plant, storage and distribution points, and remedial action wherever necessary, to ensure that the water supplied to households is of prescribed quality.

CGWB monitors groundwater levels throughout the country, four times in every year during the months of March/April/May, August, November and January. The district-wise water level data measured during Post monsoon 2025 across all the states of the country given in Annex-I indicates that approximately 90% of the analyzed wells have water levels ranging from 0 to 10 meters below ground level.

In order to assess the long-term fluctuation in ground water level, district-wise groundwater level data of November 2025 has been compared with the decadal mean of data of November (2015-2024) and given in Annex-II. Analysis of this data indicates that about 73.25 % of the well monitored have registered rise in groundwater level.

(d) Water being a State subject, the 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 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 Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Various efforts taken by Government to promote rainwater harvesting, water

conservation and efficient water management are as follows:

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing the Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme for scientific assessment, monitoring, and sustainable management of groundwater resources. Key activities include groundwater exploration, water level and quality monitoring, and resource assessment to support evidence-based planning.

Page 2 of 7Under this, the National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Programme has covered about 25 lakh sq. km, with aquifer maps and management plans shared with States/UTs for implementation. NAQUIM 2.0 is now underway for high-resolution mapping in priority areas, supported by advanced technologies such as heliborne surveys to enable precise aquifer characterization and planning.

The Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater–2020 provides a macro-level framework for constructing about 1.42 crore recharge structures to harness 185 BCM of monsoon rainfall.

Demonstrative projects and technical support to States further promote adoption of suitable recharge interventions, including convergence with schemes.

To strengthen regulation, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has issued guidelines for groundwater extraction (2020, amended 2023), mandating rainwater harvesting, water use efficiency, and recycling. A Model Bill has also been circulated for enactment of groundwater legislation, with most States/UTs adopting it. In parallel, CGWB undertakes awareness, training, and IEC activities to promote water conservation.

These efforts are complemented by initiatives such as National Water Awards, dissemination of best practices, and provisions for wastewater recycling in urban and industrial sectors, collectively contributing to sustainable groundwater management.

Apart from this, the other important steps taken by the Central Government to promote water conservation and efficient management and to improve groundwater level in the country can be seen at

https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2024/07/2024071

6706354487.pdf ***** Page 3 of 7Annex-I Annex referred to in Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3451 answered on 23.03.2026 State-wise Depth to Water Level Distribution of Percentage of Observation Wells Post-Monsoon 2025 No./Percentage of wells showing depth to water level (mbgl) in the range of S. No of well State/UT 0 to 2 2 to 5 5 to 10 10 to 20 20 to 40 > 40 No. analysed No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 1 A&N Islands 109 102 93.6 7 6.4 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 2 Andhra Pradesh 801 463 57.8 219 27.3 78 9.7 25 3.1 11 1.4 5 0.6 3 Arunachal Pradesh 28 11 39.3 13 46.4 3 10.7 1 3.6 0 0.0 0 0.0 4 Assam 413 203 49.2 172 41.6 29 7.0 7 1.7 2 0.5 0 0.0 5 Bihar 874 216 24.7 554 63.4 103 11.8 1 0.1 0 0.0 0 0.0 6 Chandigarh 12 0 0.0 3 25.0 2 16.7 2 16.7 3 25.0 2 16.7 7 Chhattisgarh 934 240 25.7 558 59.7 122 13.1 12 1.3 2 0.2 0 0.0 8 Delhi 120 18 15.0 31 25.8 41 34.2 17 14.2 12 10.0 1 0.8 9 Goa 72 26 36.1 26 36.1 16 22.2 4 5.6 0 0.0 0 0.0 10 Gujarat 997 207 20.8 461 46.2 223 22.4 77 7.7 26 2.6 3 0.3 11 Haryana 350 54 15.4 66 18.9 49 14.0 76 21.7 64 18.3 41 11.7 12 Himachal Pradesh 169 40 23.7 61 36.1 30 17.8 17 10.1 15 8.9 6 3.6 13 J & K 345 96 27.8 139 40.3 54 15.7 31 9.0 17 4.9 8 2.3 14 Jharkhand 493 96 19.5 319 64.7 76 15.4 2 0.4 0 0.0 0 0.0 15 Karnataka 1168 369 31.6 427 36.6 326 27.9 45 3.9 1 0.1 0 0.0 16 Kerala 1466 316 21.6 503 34.3 531 36.2 104 7.1 11 0.8 1 0.1 17 Madhya Pradesh 1451 351 24.2 734 50.6 313 21.6 52 3.6 1 0.1 0 0.0 18 Maharashtra 2303 744 32.3 1079 46.9 396 17.2 70 3.0 12 0.5 2 0.1 19 Manipur 4 2 50.0 2 50.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 20 Meghalaya 72 33 45.8 37 51.4 2 2.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 21 Mizoram 9 7 77.8 2 22.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 22 Nagaland 91 38 41.8 31 34.1 22 24.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 23 Odisha 1330 577 43.4 672 50.5 80 6.0 1 0.1 0 0.0 0 0.0 24 Puducherry 9 4 44.4 4 44.4 1 11.1 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 25 Punjab 267 29 10.9 51 19.1 36 13.5 65 24.3 62 23.2 24 9.0 Page 4 of 7No./Percentage of wells showing depth to water level (mbgl) in the range of S. No of well State/UT 0 to 2 2 to 5 5 to 10 10 to 20 20 to 40 > 40 No. analysed No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 26 Rajasthan 1180 256 21.7 195 16.5 128 10.8 138 11.7 200 16.9 263 22.3 27 Sikkim 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 100.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 28 Tamil Nadu 921 290 31.5 361 39.2 203 22.0 59 6.4 7 0.8 1 0.1 29 Telangana 539 203 37.7 238 44.2 79 14.7 16 3.0 2 0.4 1 0.2 30 DNH & DD 41 7 17.1 30 73.2 4 9.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 31 Tripura 101 33 32.7 57 56.4 11 10.9 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 32 Uttar Pradesh 1103 278 25.2 465 42.2 217 19.7 117 10.6 25 2.3 1 0.1 33 Uttarakhand 191 16 8.4 44 23.0 51 26.7 29 15.2 33 17.3 18 9.4 34 West Bengal 719 323 44.9 329 45.8 51 7.1 15 2.1 1 0.1 0 0.0 Total 18683 5648 30.2 7890 42.2 3277 17.5 984 5.3 507 2.7 377 2.0 Page 5 of 7Annex-II Annex referred to in Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3451 answered on 23.03.2026 State-wise Decadal Water Level Fluctuation with Mean (Post-Monsoon 2015 to 2024) and Post-Monsoon 2025 (Unconfined Aquifer) No of No. & % of wells showing change in water level Total No. of Sr.

State/UT wells Rise Fall wells No. analysed 0 to 2 % 2 to 4 % > 4 % 0 to 2 % 2 to 4 % > 4 % Rise Fall 1 A&N Islands 106 83 78.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 22 20.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 83 22 2 Andhra Pradesh 603 383 63.5 96 15.9 56 9.3 55 9.1 10 1.7 3 0.5 535 68 3 Arunachal Pradesh 18 8 44.4 1 5.6 0 0.0 9 50.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 9 9 4 Assam 221 147 66.5 9 4.1 2 0.9 56 25.3 4 1.8 2 0.9 158 62 5 Bihar 591 337 57.0 36 6.1 3 0.5 204 34.5 8 1.4 0 0.0 376 212 6 Chandigarh 10 4 40.0 1 10.0 0 0.0 3 30.0 1 10.0 1 10.0 5 5 7 Chhattisgarh 727 450 61.9 74 10.2 15 2.1 166 22.8 18 2.5 3 0.4 539 187 8 Delhi 76 28 36.8 13 17.1 23 30.3 8 10.5 2 2.6 2 2.6 64 12 9 Goa 68 58 85.3 4 5.9 2 2.9 2 2.9 1 1.5 0 0.0 64 3 10 Gujarat 636 240 37.7 113 17.8 110 17.3 139 21.9 19 3.0 15 2.4 463 173 11 Haryana 243 86 35.4 36 14.8 28 11.5 45 18.5 26 10.7 22 9.1 150 93 12 Himachal Pradesh 89 57 64.0 9 10.1 5 5.6 16 18.0 1 1.1 1 1.1 71 18 13 J & K 207 123 59.4 5 2.4 5 2.4 65 31.4 6 2.9 1 0.5 133 72 14 Jharkhand 271 149 55.0 34 12.5 4 1.5 78 28.8 4 1.5 0 0.0 187 82 15 Karnataka 1110 577 52.0 127 11.4 57 5.1 304 27.4 29 2.6 12 1.1 761 345 16 Kerala 1397 772 55.3 70 5.0 26 1.9 470 33.6 37 2.6 14 1.0 868 521 17 Madhya Pradesh 1036 506 48.8 237 22.9 115 11.1 141 13.6 21 2.0 14 1.4 858 176 18 Maharashtra 1580 872 55.2 273 17.3 121 7.7 246 15.6 46 2.9 19 1.2 1266 311 19 Meghalaya 44 11 25.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 32 72.7 1 2.3 0 0.0 11 33 20 Nagaland 11 3 27.3 1 9.1 1 9.1 2 18.2 2 18.2 1 9.1 5 5 21 Odisha 1171 749 64.0 60 5.1 6 0.5 327 27.9 19 1.6 1 0.1 815 347 22 Puducherry 8 5 62.5 0 0.0 1 12.5 1 12.5 1 12.5 0 0.0 6 2 23 Punjab 185 80 43.2 17 9.2 9 4.9 38 20.5 17 9.2 23 12.4 106 78 24 Rajasthan 849 221 26.0 169 19.9 208 24.5 125 14.7 52 6.1 73 8.6 598 250 25 Tamil Nadu 800 352 44.0 169 21.1 112 14.0 125 15.6 23 2.9 15 1.9 633 163 26 Telangana 394 138 35.0 115 29.2 106 26.9 30 7.6 2 0.5 2 0.5 359 34 Page 6 of 7No of No. & % of wells showing change in water level Total No. of Sr.

State/UT wells Rise Fall wells No. analysed 0 to 2 % 2 to 4 % > 4 % 0 to 2 % 2 to 4 % > 4 % Rise Fall 27 DNH & DD 20 8 40.0 1 5.0 1 5.0 10 50.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 10 10 28 Tripura 86 47 54.7 0 0.0 0 0.0 37 43.0 2 2.3 0 0.0 47 39 29 Uttar Pradesh 569 320 56.2 66 11.6 22 3.9 134 23.6 21 3.7 6 1.1 408 161 30 Uttarakhand 143 59 41.3 15 10.5 12 8.4 45 31.5 3 2.1 8 5.6 86 56 31 West Bengal 606 455 75.1 26 4.3 9 1.5 102 16.8 6 1.0 5 0.8 490 113 Total 13875 7328 52.8 1777 12.8 1059 7.6 3037 21.9 382 2.8 243 1.8 10164 3662 *49 wells show no change in water level.

Page 7 of 7