Executive Summary:
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2069 regarding the Groundwater Recharging Scheme in the Dharashiv district, answered on July 31, 2025. It details work undertaken from 2018 to 2024, proposals submitted, the increase in water levels in villages, and plans for water replenishment and river widening. The Ministry of Jal Shakti outlines various central government initiatives and schemes aimed at groundwater conservation and recharge in the region, while emphasizing the state government's primary responsibility.
Key Points / Main Content:
Groundwater Recharging Scheme in Dharashiv (2018-2019):
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) constructed 55 check dams, 46 recharge wells, and 20 piezometers under the Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme. These were then handed over to the State Government.
* Approximately 21,200 water conservation and artificial recharge works were coordinated in Dharashiv through convergence under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) over the past 4 years.
Groundwater Assessment and Extraction:
* As per the 2024 assessment, all 8 Talukas in the Dharashiv district are categorized as "Safe" (groundwater extraction less than 70%).
* Annual groundwater recharge augmented from 0.86 BCM to 0.89 BCM between 2020 and 2024.
* The Stage of Groundwater Extraction (SoE) improved from 62.09 to 59.74 during the same period.
Central Government Initiatives:
* Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Aims to converge efforts and funds for water conservation and groundwater recharge. JSA 2025 is underway, focusing on over-exploited and critical districts.
* Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020): Recommends 585 check dams and 205 percolation tanks for Dharashiv, potentially harnessing around 58.35 MCM of water.
* Atal Bhujal Yojana: Operational in parts of Dharashiv, focusing on community-led sustainable groundwater management.
* Per Drop More Crop Scheme: Implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW) to enhance water use efficiency at the farm level.
* Mission Amrit Sarovar: Aims to develop and rejuvenate at least 75 water bodies in each district. Approximately 3,055 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in Maharashtra.
* Jal Sanchay - Jan Bhagidari: Encourages community ownership and local solutions for water challenges.
State Government Role:
* Sustainable development and management of groundwater resources is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments.
* The government of Maharashtra is implementing its Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan.
* Widening and rejuvenation of rivers is basically the responsibility of the state government, with technical help from the Central Government.
Impact Analysis:
State Government:
* Impact: Responsible for the sustainable development and management of groundwater resources, including implementing schemes like Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan and widening/rejuvenating rivers.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring state-level schemes, coordinate with central government initiatives, and address water resource management.
Central Government (Ministry of Jal Shakti, CGWB, DAFW):
* Impact: Responsible for providing technical and financial assistance, implementing national schemes (JSA, Atal Bhujal Yojana, Per Drop More Crop), and providing guidelines (Master Plan for Artificial Recharge).
* Action Required: Continue providing support to state governments, implement and monitor central schemes, and update/revise guidelines as necessary.
Dharashiv District (Local Authorities and Residents):
* Impact: Benefits from improved groundwater recharge, water conservation efforts, and potential increase in water availability.
* Action Required: Participate in community-led initiatives, adopt water-efficient practices, and maintain constructed recharge structures.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and Ganga rejuvenation.
Dharashiv district of Maharashtra: A district in the state of Maharashtra, India, which is the focus of groundwater recharging efforts described in the document.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): An organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti responsible for ground water management and assessment.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): A mission mode campaign implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for water conservation and artificial recharge.
Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme: A scheme under which Artificial Recharge Structures were constructed for Aquifer Rejuvenation in Dharashiv.
Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan: A water conservation program implemented by the government of Maharashtra.
Atal Bhujal Yojana: A scheme by the government of India for community-led sustainable management of ground water resources in water-stressed districts.
Mission Amrit Sarovar: An initiative by the Government of India aimed at developing and rejuvenating water bodies in each district of the country.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2069
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
GROUNDWATER RECHARGING SCHEME IN DHARASHIV DISTRICT
†2069. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the work undertaken under the Groundwater Recharging Scheme in Dharashiv district
from 2018 to 2024;
(b) the number of proposals submitted in Dry and Yellow Zone;
(c) the number of the villages in the Dry Zone with increased amount of water under the said scheme;
and
(d) the details of special plans for water replenishment and increasing the width of the rivers?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the ministry had taken up the construction of area
specific Artificial Recharge Structures for Aquifer Rejuvenation in the Aspirational District of Dharashiv
(Osmanabad) under Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme during 2018-19. A
total 55 Nos. Check dams, 46 nos. Recharge Wells & 20 nos. Piezometers were constructed and handed
over to the State Govt. Further, under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), the mission mode campaign being
implemented by this Ministry for taking up various water conservation and artificial recharge works and
completion of around 21,200 such works have been coordinated in Dharashiv district of Maharashtra in
the past 4 years through convergence.
(b) & (c) Dynamic Ground water resource assessment of the country is being annually conducted by
CGWB in co-ordination with state governments. As per the latest assessment of 2024, there are total 08
assessment units (Talukas) in the Dharashiv district, all of which have been categorized as ‘Safe’, where
the stage of Ground water extraction is less than 70 %. Further, upon comparison between the resource
assessment data of Dharashiv for the year 2020 and 2024, it is seen that the total annual ground water
recharge has got augmented from 0.86 BCM to 0.89 BCM. Moreover, Stage of groundwater Extraction
(SoE), which is defined as a ratio of total annual ground water extraction over total annual extractable
ground water resource, has also improved from 62.09% to 59.74% during the said period.
(d) Water being a State subject, sustainable development and management of groundwater resources is
primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. However, the Central Government facilitates the
efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its various schemes
1and projects. In this direction, several significant steps have already been taken by the Ministry of Jal
Shakti and other central ministries for conservation and augmenting of ground water resources in the
country, including Dharashiv district of Maharashtra. Some of the important ones are given below:-
i. Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), the flagship campaign of the M/o Jal Shakti, wherein all the efforts
and funds under various schemes and projects are converged and channelized to deliver water
conservation and ground water recharge works on the ground, is being implemented in the
country since 2019. Currently, JSA 2025 is underway with special focus on over-exploited and
critical districts. The government of Maharashtra is also making significant efforts in this
direction through the implementation of its own ‘Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan’.
Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by the CGWB
ii.
for the entire country, including Dharashiv, Maharashtra and shared with States/UTs providing
a broad outline for construction of around 1.42 crore rain water harvesting and artificial
recharge structures in the country to harness 185 BCM (Billion cubic meter). For Dharashiv
district, the Master plan recommends 585 check dams and 205 percolation tanks in rural areas to
potentially harness around 58.35 MCM of water.
iii. T he government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana in 80 water stressed districts of 7
states which has community led sustainable management of ground water resources and demand
management as its core theme. Atal Jal is currently operational in parts of Dharashiv District
also, wherein several demand and supply side measures have been/are being implemented for
replenishment and conservation of ground water resources.
iv. Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA & FW), GoI, is implementing Per Drop
More Crop Scheme in the country, since 2015-16, which focuses on enhancing water use
efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation and better on-farm water management
practices to optimize the use of available water resources.
v. 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. As an outcome nearly
69,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country, with around 3,055 in
Maharashtra.
vi. To further strengthen the momentum of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: A
Community-Driven Path to Water Sustainability in India has been launched by the Hon’ble
Prime Minister with a vision to make rain water harvesting a mass movement in the country. By
promoting community ownership and responsibility, the initiative seeks to develop cost-
effective, local solutions tailored to specific water challenges across different regions.
Further widening and rejuvenation of rivers is basically the responsibility of the state government
and the Central government extends necessary technical help through its organizations like CWC.
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