**Executive Summary**
This document presents the response of the Minister of State for Jal Shakti to questions regarding the installation of handpumps in Himachal Pradesh. The response highlights the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), its objectives, and the roles of the central and state/UT governments in providing tap water connections. The document also outlines measures for groundwater management and regulation. The questions were answered on 12.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):**
* Implemented by the Government of India in partnership with States since August 2019.
* Aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household.
* **Responsibilities under JJM:**
* Planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes are under the purview of State/UT governments.
* Government of India supplements efforts with technical and financial assistance.
* **Water Sources:**
* Sources under JJM include groundwater (wells, handpumps), traditional surface water, and rainwater stored in tanks.
* Project-wise details are maintained at the State Government level.
* **Groundwater Management and Regulation:**
* The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) addresses water resources, including conservation & quality; these aspects are managed by State Governments.
* Government of India provides technical support and partial financial assistance.
* Initiatives such as the National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) and Master Plan for Artificial Recharge (2020) encourage rainwater harvesting.
* The Master Plan envisages the construction of approximately 114,242 rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures in Himachal Pradesh.
* **Groundwater Extraction Regulation:**
* Guidelines notified for regulation of groundwater extraction by industries, infrastructure, and mining projects (SO 3289(E), dated 24.09.2020 and amendments vide SO 1509(E), dated 29.03.2023).
* Prescribes rules for issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC).
* New major industries are not permitted to extract groundwater in over-exploited areas.
* States/UTs are urged to align their regulations with central guidelines.
* **Model Bill Circulation:**
* A Model Bill has been circulated to States/UTs for groundwater legislation, including rainwater harvesting.
* 21 States/UTs, including Himachal Pradesh, have adopted and implemented groundwater legislation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for planning, approving, implementing, operating, and maintaining drinking water supply schemes under JJM. Expected to study and manage water resources, and to modify Acts/Rules/Guidelines to align with central groundwater extraction guidelines.
* **Action Required:** Maintain project details for rural water supply projects, ensure consistency with central guidelines, and enact suitable ground water legislation.
**Stakeholder: Industries, Infrastructure, and Mining Projects**
* **Impact:** Subject to regulation of groundwater extraction and requirement for NOC. New major industries are restricted from extracting groundwater in over-exploited areas.
* **Action Required:** Comply with guidelines for groundwater extraction, obtain NOC as required, and adhere to restrictions in over-exploited areas.
**Stakeholder: Rural Households**
* **Impact:** Aim is to provide tap water connections to every household through the JJM.
* **Action Required:** Support the implementation of water supply schemes and participate in the operation and maintenance of the schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A program aiming to provide tap water connection to every rural household in the country.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The ministry responsible for water resources, drinking water, and sanitation; answering the question about handpump installations.
Himachal Pradesh: The specific state where the installation of handpumps is being questioned.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): An organization that, along with the Ministry and State Governments, conducts annual assessments of groundwater resources and prepares Master Plans for Artificial Recharge.
Master Plan for Artificial Recharge (2020): A plan to encourage the implementation of rainwater harvesting structures.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2254
ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026
INSTALLATION OF HANDPUMPS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
†2254. SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether a large number of handpumps have been installed for the purpose of drinking water in
various areas of Himachal Pradesh and if so, the details thereof indicating the total number of
handpumps installed so far, district-wise;
(b) whether the prior permission was mandatory for installation of handpumps by non-
Governmental or private individuals/institutions and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has decided to abolish the said permission system and if so, the details
thereof along with the policy-based reasons therefor; and
(d) whether concrete regulatory and monitoring measures are currently in place to prevent
uncontrolled exploitation of groundwater, conserve water levels and ensure long-term drinking
water security after the abolition of the said permission, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) to (d) Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal
Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of tap water connection to every rural
household of the country.
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.
Under JJM, the water sources inter alia which include groundwater (open well, borewell, tube well,
handpumps, etc.), ancient & traditional surface water (river, reservoir, lake, pond, springs, etc.) and
rain water stored in small tanks are being used as sources for drinking water supply schemes. As
numerous projects are implemented concurrently at various levels across the States for achieving the
envisaged objectives, project-wise details of individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply
projects are maintained at the State Government level.
Page 1 of 2Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR)
has informed that the aspects related to water resources, including its conservation & quality 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, a number of measures being taken by Government of India for sustainable management of
ground water across region inter alia including initiatives such as the National Aquifer Mapping
(NAQUIM) and the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge (2020) encourage the implementation of
rainwater harvesting structures. Additionally, National Water Policy has been formulated by DoWR,
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 Himachal Pradesh. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 1,14,242 Rain water
harvesting and artificial recharge structures in Himachal Pradesh. Apart from this, the important
steps taken by the central government to promote rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge in the
country including Himachal Pradesh can be seen at:
https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2024/07/202407
16706354487.pdf
Ministry has also notified guidelines for regulation of ground water extraction by industries,
infrastructure projects and mining projects vide SO 3289(E), dated 24.09.2020 and amendments
thereto vide SO 1509(E), dated 29.03.2023 prescribing set of rules for issuance of No Objection
Certificate (NOC) for ground water extraction to these projects as per these guidelines having pan-
India applicability. New major industries are not permitted to extract groundwater in over-exploited
areas/ blocks. Ministry and CGWA have regularly been pursuing with States/ UTs to make
necessary modifications/ amendments in their Acts/ Rules/ Guidelines to make them consistent with
the central guidelines.
Besides, 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 Himachal Pradesh have adopted and implemented
the ground water legislation.
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