Parliament Question: Groundwater Depletion and Management in Rajasthan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3104 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2025 GROUNDWATER DEPLETION AND MANAGEMENT IN RAJASTHAN 3104. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the details regarding the current status of groundwater depletion in Rajasthan, district-wise with particular reference to Jhalawar-Baran Lok Sabha Constituency including the average decline in groundwater levels during the last five years and a comparison with the national average; (b) whether the Government in coordination with the State Government has initiated any community-led initiatives or capacity-building programmes at the Panchayat and Municipal levels for sustainable groundwater management in Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof; and (c) the details of the technical and financial support provided by the Government for crop diversification towards less water-intensive crops, particularly in the 920 villages of the Baran region and 200 plus villages of the Jhalawar region where the progress of the Parvan River Multipurpose Project and the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project remains minimal? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) manually monitors groundwater levels four times a year through its monitoring stations spread across the country, including in Rajasthan & in its Jhalawar-Baran Lok Sabha Constituency. The district-wise ground water levels measured during post-monsoon monitoring of 2024 (November 2024) for the State of Rajasthan is given in Annexure-I. Further, in order to gain a perspective on long term fluctuations in ground water levels, the post- monsoon 2024 water level data for Rajasthan is compared with the Mean of the previous 5 years (post- monsoon water level data from 2019-23), which is provided in Annexure-II. Such analysis indicates that in Rajasthan, about 62.5 % of analyzed wells showed rising water levels in 2024 as compared to the mean level of previous 5 years. Further, for Jhalawar–Baran Lok Sabha Constituency, comprising Jhalawar and Baran districts, the five-year comparison of post-monsoon water levels indicates that in Baran district about 57.1% of the monitored wells showed rising trends, whereas in Jhalawar district about 45.5% of wells showed rising trends. From the country perspective, during this period about 54.4 % of analyzed wells in the whole country showed rising water levels. 1(b) ‘Water’ is a state subject and the responsibility of sustainable 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 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and other central ministries for improved management of ground water resources in the country, including Rajasthan through active community participation are provided below :  With the objective of promoting community led ground water management, Ministry of Jal Shakti in coordination with state governments, has implemented Atal Bhujal Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme, in 80 water stressed districts across 7 states, which included Rajasthan. This is a first of its kind scheme to focus on demand side interventions for conservation of groundwater and entails capacity building at the grassroots level for decentralized and more efficient water governance. Under Atal Bhujal Yojana, capacity-building activities have been carried out extensively, with more than 17,300 GP-level trainings conducted across the State, along with Block, District and State- level trainings. Of these, 930 GP-level trainings were conducted in Baran and 609 GP-level trainings in Jhalawar. Further, Community-led Water Budgets (WBs) and Water Security Plans (WSPs) were prepared for all 1,132 Atal Jal GPs in the State and were updated annually,  The Government is implementing Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in the country, including Rajasthan, since 2019 which is a mission mode and time bound programme for harvesting the rainfall and taking up water conservation and ground water recharge activities, through active community involvement. More than 700 Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs) have been set up under Abhiyan in various districts of the country, including in 41 districts of Rajasthan, for interacting with local community and dissemination of water related knowledge.  To further strengthen the momentum of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari has been launched, which emphasizes the importance of Jan Bhagidari or peoples’ participation in water conservation with the aim to have a special focus on the construction of low cost and locally suited artificial recharge structures/borewell recharge shafts, which will increase storage capacity & help to augment groundwater recharge. (c) In the State of Rajasthan, 58 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in District Baran and 38 GPs in District Jhalawar were covered under the Atal Bhujal Yojana. Being a scheme focused on demand side management of ground water, promoting crop diversification from water intensive to less water consuming crops was one of the key priorities of Atal Bhujal Yojana. Through extensive trainings, IEC activities, Water Budgeting exercise etc. the community was made aware of the water resources availability and consumption in their GPs and encouraged to take up crop diversification. Further, financial assistance of Rs. 37.21 lakhs for Baran district and 46.46 lakhs for Jhalawar district has been provided for this purpose under Atal Bhujal Yojana. *** 2ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3104 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.12.2025 REGARDING “GROUNDWATER DEPLETION AND MANAGEMENT IN RAJASTHAN”. District-wise Depth to Water Level Distribution of Percentage of Observation Wells Post-Monsoon 2024 (Unconfined Aquifer) for the State of Rajasthan No of No./Percentage of wells showing depth to water level (mbgl) in the Sr. District Well range of No. Name Anal 0 to 2 2 to 5 5 to 10 10 to 20 20 to 40 > 40 ysed No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 1 Ajmer 15 6 40.0 6 40.0 1 6.7 1 6.7 1 6.7 0 0.0 2 Alwar 20 1 5.0 1 5.0 4 20.0 6 30.0 2 10.0 6 30.0 3 Anupgarh 6 0 0.0 0 0.0 3 50.0 3 50.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 4 Balotra 12 0 0.0 3 25.0 1 8.3 2 16.7 4 33.3 2 16.7 5 Banswara 29 6 20.7 18 62.1 4 13.8 1 3.4 0 0.0 0 0.0 6 Baran 14 1 7.1 13 92.9 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 7 Barmer 37 1 2.7 2 5.4 1 2.7 10 27.0 8 21.6 15 40.5 8 Beawar 13 3 23.1 4 30.8 4 30.8 0 0.0 2 15.4 0 0.0 9 Bharatpur 18 1 5.6 5 27.8 3 16.7 2 11.1 5 27.8 2 11.1 10 Bhilwara 47 12 25.5 16 34.0 13 27.7 6 12.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 11 Bikaner 35 0 0.0 1 2.9 3 8.6 9 25.7 10 28.6 12 34.3 12 Bundi 15 8 53.3 3 20.0 1 6.7 3 20.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 13 Chittorgarh 12 1 8.3 1 8.3 4 33.3 3 25.0 3 25.0 0 0.0 14 Churu 28 0 0.0 0 0.0 3 10.7 5 17.9 12 42.9 8 28.6 15 Dausa 23 1 4.3 3 13.0 4 17.4 3 13.0 3 13.0 9 39.1 16 Deeg 9 2 22.2 1 11.1 3 33.3 1 11.1 1 11.1 1 11.1 17 Dholpur 18 3 16.7 6 33.3 3 16.7 2 11.1 4 22.2 0 0.0 Didwana- 18 Kuchaman 18 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 4 22.2 4 22.2 10 55.6 19 Dudu 25 14 56.0 10 40.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 4.0 0 0.0 20 Dungarpur 27 3 11.1 12 44.4 11 40.7 1 3.7 0 0.0 0 0.0 21 Ganganagar 23 0 0.0 3 13.0 7 30.4 10 43.5 3 13.0 0 0.0 22 Gangapurcity 15 6 40.0 2 13.3 5 33.3 0 0.0 1 6.7 1 6.7 23 Hanumangarh 38 1 2.6 0 0.0 3 7.9 15 39.5 17 44.7 2 5.3 24 Jaipur 11 0 0.0 1 9.1 1 9.1 0 0.0 1 9.1 8 72.7 325 Jaipur (Gramin) 72 1 1.4 11 15.3 7 9.7 7 9.7 12 16.7 34 47.2 26 Jaisalmer 65 2 3.1 2 3.1 8 12.3 14 21.5 26 40.0 13 20.0 27 Jalore 9 0 0.0 2 22.2 0 0.0 2 22.2 2 22.2 3 33.3 28 Jhalawar 22 4 18.2 8 36.4 6 27.3 4 18.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 29 Jhunjhunu 24 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 3 12.5 21 87.5 30 Jodhpur 3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 2 66.7 1 33.3 0 0.0 Jodhpur 31 (Gramin) 80 6 7.5 6 7.5 6 7.5 16 20.0 14 17.5 32 40.0 32 Karauli 27 5 18.5 4 14.8 3 11.1 5 18.5 8 29.6 2 7.4 33 Kekri 10 4 40.0 4 40.0 1 10.0 1 10.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 34 Khairthal-Tijara 11 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 7 63.6 4 36.4 35 Kota 15 1 6.7 7 46.7 4 26.7 3 20.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 36 Kotputli-Behror 12 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 8.3 0 0.0 2 16.7 9 75.0 37 Nagaur 19 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 5.3 5 26.3 13 68.4 38 Neem Ka Thana 7 0 0.0 2 28.6 1 14.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 4 57.1 39 Pali 25 8 32.0 12 48.0 4 16.0 1 4.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 40 Phalodi 12 0 0.0 1 8.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 8.3 10 83.3 41 Pratapgarh 17 7 41.2 7 41.2 2 11.8 1 5.9 0 0.0 0 0.0 42 Rajsamand 27 4 14.8 14 51.9 5 18.5 4 14.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 43 Salumbar 8 2 25.0 4 50.0 2 25.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 44 Sanchore 10 1 10.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 10.0 4 40.0 4 40.0 45 Sawai Madhopur 20 7 35.0 9 45.0 2 10.0 0 0.0 2 10.0 0 0.0 46 Shahpura 9 2 22.2 3 33.3 3 33.3 1 11.1 0 0.0 0 0.0 47 Sikar 38 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 2.6 9 23.7 28 73.7 48 Sirohi 13 2 15.4 1 7.7 5 38.5 5 38.5 0 0.0 0 0.0 49 Tonk 32 15 46.9 8 25.0 6 18.8 3 9.4 0 0.0 0 0.0 50 Udaipur 23 7 30.4 9 39.1 6 26.1 1 4.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 Total 1118 148 13.24 225 20.13 154 13.77 160 14.31 178 15.92 253 22.63 4ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3104 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.12.2025 REGARDING “GROUNDWATER DEPLETION AND MANAGEMENT IN RAJASTHAN”. District-wise Water Level Fluctuation (in meters) with Mean (Post-Monsoon 2019 to 2023) and Post- Monsoon 2024 (Unconfined Aquifer) of Rajasthan No./Percentage of wells showing fluctuation to water level (m) in the range of No of Sr Rise Fall District Well Rise Fall No Name s 0 to 2 2 to 4 > 4 0 to 2 2 to 4 > 4 . Anal No No No No No No No No ysed % % % % % % % % . . . . . . . . 100. 1 Ajmer 10 2 20 4 40 4 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0.0 0 2 Alwar 9 0 0 0 0 4 44.4 5 55.6 0 0 0 0 4 44.4 5 55.6 3 Anupgarh 6 4 66.7 0 0 0 0 2 33.3 0 0 0 0 4 66.7 2 33.3 4 Balotra 8 2 25 0 0 1 12.5 1 12.5 2 25 2 25 3 37.5 5 62.5 5 Banswara 27 10 37 5 18.5 0 0 9 33.3 2 7.4 1 3.7 15 55.6 12 44.4 6 Baran 14 5 35.7 2 14.3 1 7.1 6 42.9 0 0 0 0 8 57.1 6 42.9 7 Barmer 28 9 32.1 6 21.4 2 7.1 5 17.9 2 7.1 4 14.3 17 60.7 11 39.3 8 Beawar 13 6 46.2 1 7.7 5 38.5 1 7.7 0 0 0 0 12 92.3 1 7.7 9 Bharatpur 12 5 41.7 3 25 3 25 1 8.3 0 0 0 0 11 91.7 1 8.3 10 Bhilwara 47 12 25.5 10 21.3 13 27.7 7 14.9 2 4.3 3 6.4 35 74.5 12 25.5 11 Bikaner 31 14 45.2 1 3.2 0 0 9 29 3 9.7 4 12.9 15 48.4 16 51.6 12 Bundi 10 4 40 2 20 0 0 4 40 0 0 0 0 6 60.0 4 40.0 Chittorgar 13 12 4 33.3 0 0 0 0 3 25 0 0 5 41.7 4 33.3 8 66.7 h 14 Churu 28 17 60.7 1 3.6 0 0 9 32.1 0 0 1 3.6 18 64.3 10 35.7 15 Dausa 14 1 7.1 1 7.1 11 78.6 0 0 0 0 1 7.1 13 92.9 1 7.1 16 Deeg 7 3 42.9 2 28.6 1 14.3 1 14.3 0 0 0 0 6 85.7 1 14.3 17 Dholpur 13 3 23.1 6 46.2 1 7.7 2 15.4 0 0 1 7.7 10 76.9 3 23.1 Didwana- 18 9 0 0 2 22.2 0 0 3 33.3 1 11.1 3 33.3 2 22.2 7 77.8 Kuchaman 100. 19 Dudu 22 5 22.7 11 50 6 27.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 0.0 0 20 Dungarpur 19 7 36.8 1 5.3 0 0 6 31.6 4 21.1 1 5.3 8 42.1 11 57.9 Ganganag 21 23 14 60.9 1 4.3 1 4.3 7 30.4 0 0 0 0 16 69.6 7 30.4 ar Gangapur 100. 22 7 2 28.6 2 28.6 3 42.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0.0 city 0 Hanuman 23 26 7 26.9 2 7.7 0 0 11 42.3 5 19.2 1 3.8 9 34.6 17 65.4 garh 24 Jaipur 9 2 22.2 1 11.1 4 44.4 1 11.1 1 11.1 0 0 7 77.8 2 22.2 25 Jaipur 50 4 8 6 12 18 36 7 14 3 6 12 24 28 56.0 22 44.0 5(Gramin) 26 Jaisalmer 42 18 42.9 8 19 7 16.7 4 9.5 0 0 5 11.9 33 78.6 9 21.4 27 Jalore 6 1 16.7 0 0 1 16.7 3 50 1 16.7 0 0 2 33.3 4 66.7 28 Jhalawar 22 8 36.4 2 9.1 0 0 7 31.8 5 22.7 0 0 10 45.5 12 54.5 100. 29 Jhunjhunu 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 5 50 4 40 0 0.0 10 0 30 Jodhpur 3 1 33.3 0 0 1 33.3 1 33.3 0 0 0 0 2 66.7 1 33.3 Jodhpur 31 42 12 28.6 6 14.3 11 26.2 9 21.4 1 2.4 3 7.1 29 69.0 13 31.0 (Gramin) 32 Karauli 13 4 30.8 1 7.7 6 46.2 1 7.7 0 0 1 7.7 11 84.6 2 15.4 33 Kekri 9 6 66.7 0 0 2 22.2 0 0 1 11.1 0 0 8 88.9 1 11.1 Khairthal 34 9 2 22.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 11.1 6 66.7 2 22.2 7 77.8 -Tijara 35 Kota 13 4 30.8 1 7.7 0 0 6 46.2 0 0 2 15.4 5 38.5 8 61.5 Kotputli 36 8 0 0 0 0 1 12.5 1 12.5 1 12.5 5 62.5 1 12.5 7 87.5 -Behror 37 Nagaur 6 2 33.3 0 0 0 0 1 16.7 0 0 3 50 2 33.3 4 66.7 Neem Ka 38 3 0 0 2 66.7 0 0 0 0 1 33.3 0 0 2 66.7 1 33.3 Thana 39 Pali 16 6 37.5 4 25 3 18.8 2 12.5 0 0 1 6.3 13 81.3 3 18.8 40 Phalodi 9 0 0 1 11.1 1 11.1 2 22.2 0 0 5 55.6 2 22.2 7 77.8 41 Pratapgarh 17 7 41.2 4 23.5 1 5.9 2 11.8 2 11.8 1 5.9 12 70.6 5 29.4 Rajsaman 42 25 9 36 3 12 3 12 6 24 3 12 1 4 15 60.0 10 40.0 d 43 Salumbar 8 2 25 2 25 1 12.5 3 37.5 0 0 0 0 5 62.5 3 37.5 44 Sanchore 10 2 20 1 10 5 50 2 20 0 0 0 0 8 80.0 2 20.0 Sawai 45 13 6 46.2 3 23.1 3 23.1 0 0 1 7.7 0 0 12 92.3 1 7.7 Madhopur 46 Shahpura 9 6 66.7 0 0 0 0 1 11.1 1 11.1 1 11.1 6 66.7 3 33.3 47 Sikar 25 2 8 1 4 0 0 6 24 10 40 6 24 3 12.0 22 88.0 48 Sirohi 12 3 25 2 16.7 4 33.3 1 8.3 2 16.7 0 0 9 75.0 3 25.0 49 Tonk 17 4 23.5 7 41.2 4 23.5 1 5.9 0 0 1 5.9 15 88.2 2 11.8 50 Udaipur 23 16 69.6 2 8.7 0 0 3 13 1 4.3 1 4.3 18 78.3 5 21.7 Total 824 263 31.9 120 14.6 132 16 163 19.8 61 7.4 85 10.3 515 62.5 309 37.5 ***** 6