Parliament Question: Groundwater Conservation in Uttar Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 913 ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025 GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION IN UTTAR PRADESH †913. SHRI NARESH CHANDRA UTTAM PATEL Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the norms for groundwater conservation in Uttar Pradesh; (b) the steps taken so far to overcome water crisis in Fatehpur; (c) the details of the schemes under consideration for water conservation in Fatehpur district; (d) the details of the norms for long-term policies of water conservation in Uttar Pradesh; (e) the details of the subsidy provided for drip irrigation (micro-irrigation) system in Fatehpur; and (f) the names of water-related subsidy schemes under consideration of the Government in respect of Fatehpur district? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) Conservation and sustainable management of ground water resources in the country, including in the state of Uttar Pradesh requires a multi-pronged approach. Regular monitoring of ground water parameters and quantum of availability, identification of priority water stressed areas, devising right strategies for artificial recharge and rain water harvesting suitable to the terrain conditions, resorting to sustainable agricultural practices, creating mass awareness and ensuring community participation, regulation of ground water withdrawal for various purposes, putting in place a suitable legal and policy framework towards these ends etc. are the fundamental norms for a robust ground water management regime. (b) & (c) ‘Water’ is a state subject and the responsibility of proper management of ground water resources lies primarily with the concerned state governments. The Central Government complements the efforts of the states by providing technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects. In this direction, the important steps taken and schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other central ministries for sustainable management of ground water resources in the country, including in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, are given below:- i. The Government is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country since 2019 which is a mission mode and time bound programme for harvesting the rainfall and taking up water 1conservation activities. Currently, JSA 2025 is being implemented in the country with a special focus on water stressed districts. JSA is an umbrella campaign under which various ground water recharge and conservation related works are being taken up in convergence with various central and state schemes. As per the information, under JSA, around 2127 water conservation and rain water harvesting structures have been constructed, 2476 traditional water bodies have been rejuvenated and 687 reuse and recharge structures created in Fatehpur District of Uttar Pradesh during the period from March 2021 to July 2025. ii. CGWB has taken up National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) under Ground Water Management & Regulation (GWM &R) Scheme with an aim to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization. Entire mappable area of the country of around 25 lakh sq. km, including 4152 sq km of Fatehpur District, has been mapped under the scheme and management plans have been shared with the respective State/District administrations for implementation. iii. Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB for the entire country, including Uttar Pradesh and shared with States/UTs for taking up suitable filed interventions. Master plan for artificial recharge is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the different terrain conditions of the country including estimated cost. In Fatehpur district, a total of 839 Sq.Km area has been recommended as suitable for Artificial Recharge and various structures like Check-dams, Recharge shafts, Recharge Ponds and roof top rain water harvesting structures have been proposed. iv. Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched by the Government of India, which aimed at developing and rejuvenating at least 75 water bodies in each district of the country, including Uttar Pradesh. As an outcome nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country, with 258 in Fatehpur District, Uttar Pradesh. v. Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 21 States/UTs including Uttar Pradesh have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation. (d) The long term policy for conservation and sustainable management of ground water resources in Uttar Pradesh would be to continue with the fundamental principles of regular monitoring, grassroots level planning, community involvement and time bound execution of projects. All these measures are already being taken up through various schemes and programmes detailed above and the same will have to be continued in the future as well. 2(e) The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in the Country including Uttar Pradesh from the year 2015-16. The Government provides financial assistance @ 55% for small and marginal farmers and @ 45% for other farmers for installation of Drip and Sprinkler systems under the PDMC. Besides State Governments also provide Top-up subsidy to farmers from their State Budget. As per the information received from the M/o Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, an amount of Rs. 1293.53 crore has been released to the state of Uttar Pradesh as Central Assistance from 2015-16 to till date under PDMC scheme and an area of 4,95,542 Ha has been brought under micro irrigation in the state. Further, in Fatehpur District, an area of 3896.61 Ha has been covered. Further, as informed by Horticulture department of Uttar Pradesh, a total of Rs. 6.99 Cr has been given as subsidy to farmers for adopting micro irrigation in Fatehpur District during the period from April 2023 to June 2025. (f) The Union government has been advocating the need for subsidizing the small and marginal farmers, women farmers and farmers belonging to weaker sections on a priority basis for taking up micro irrigation and several other water conservation and ground water recharge related activities. However, it is for the individual state governments to devise suitable guidelines under their ongoing and proposed schemes to ensure that adequate amount of subsidies are provided to the needy individuals in order to boost water conservation activities in the country, including in Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh. ***** 3