Parliament Question: Over-exploitation of Ground Water in Budaun

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1860 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2025 OVER-EXPLOITATION OF GROUND WATER IN BUDAUN †1860. SHRI ADITYA YADAV: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the serious problem of continuous depletion and over- exploitation of groundwater in Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh, threatening agriculture, availability of drinking water and livelihood of villagers in many blocks, especially those dependent on wells and tubewells and if so, the details thereof; and (b) the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to implement artificial groundwater recharge projects, promote rainwater harvesting, regulate borewell drilling and ensure community participation for water conservation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) As per the data of Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment, 2025, carried out by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in coordination with respective state governments, the total annual groundwater recharge of the Budaun District of Uttar Pradesh has been assessed as 80,131 hectare meters (ham). The annual extractable ground water resource is 74,009 ham and the total annual groundwater extraction for all uses has been estimated as 58,756 ham. Based on these, the Stage of Groundwater Extraction (SoE) for the Budaun District works out to be about 79.39 %, which places it in ‘Semi-critical’ category. It is also to add that the SoE for Budaun district has shown slight improvement from the assessment of 2024 when it was placed at 83%. Further, out of the total 15 Assessment Units (Blocks) of the Budaun District of Uttar Pradesh, 02 nos. of units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’(where annual ground water extraction exceeds extractable ground water resource), 09 units are in ‘Semi-critical’ and 04 units are in ‘Safe’ category. (b) The government is committed to ensure sustainable management and development of water and groundwater resources of the country by promoting judicious use and robust conservation efforts. However, it may be appreciated that ‘Water’ being a State subject, sustainable development and management of water and groundwater resources is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. The Central Government, on its part, facilitates the efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and projects. The major steps taken by the government in this 1direction, for implementing artificial groundwater recharge projects, promoting rainwater harvesting, regulating ground water extraction and ensuring community participation for water conservation in the country, including in Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh, are provided below: i. Efforts of the Central government for augmenting the water/groundwater resources of the country, are mainly channeled through the flagship campaign of Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA). JSA is a time bound and mission mode programme being conducted annually since 2019 by the M/o Jal Shakti, wherein all the efforts and funds under various schemes and projects are converged to deliver water harvesting and artificial recharge works on the ground. Currently, JSA 2025 is underway in the country with special focus on over-exploited and critical districts. As per the available information, under JSA, completion of around 1.21 crore water conservation and artificial recharge works has been coordinated through convergence in the country in the last 4 years, with 20,693 structures in Budaun district, which has played a key role in enhancing the sustainability of ground water resources. ii. To further strengthen the momentum of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB): 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. iii. After the successful completion of NAQUIM 1.0, which mapped country's aquifers and provided a macro-level understanding of our nation's groundwater resources, the Central Ground Water Board has now embarked upon NAQUIM 2.0, focusing on water stressed and quality affected pockets. Under NAQUIM 2.0 state-of-the-art technologies are harnessed, for generating highly detailed, scientific data which serve as an important tool for making informed decisions for sustainable groundwater management. iv. CGWB has also prepared the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020, for the entire country 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). The Masterplan has been shared with State/UT administrations for taking up suitable field interventions. The Master Plan recommends the construction of about 1316 recharge structures, including check dams, nala bunds, cement plugs, recharge shafts, ponds, etc., and rooftop rainwater harvesting structures in Budaun District. 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 2Amrit Sarovars have been constructed/rejuvenated in the country, with 218 in Budaun district, leading to enhanced water storage and ground water recharge. vi. Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA & FW) is implementing Per Drop More Crop Scheme since 2015-16, which focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation leading to conservation of ground water. vii. Ministry of Jal Shakti has constituted the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water extraction in the Country and has notified Guidelines dated 24.09.2020 for the purpose of such regulation, which have Pan India applicability. Additionally, stringent measures like imposition of heavy penalties & Environmental Compensation Charges (EC) extraction without valid NOC, prohibiting new large-scale industries in over-exploited areas, sealing of borewells for illegal extraction etc. have been mandated by the Guidelines to regulate over extraction. However, it is to add that the state of Uttar Pradesh is regulating ground water extraction under The Uttar Pradesh Ground Water Management and Regulation Act-2019, which apart from regulating the ground water extraction, has also made it mandatory for all users to install rainwater harvesting systems against extraction done by them. viii. Ministry of Jal Shakti has successfully demonstrated the efficacy of community led participatory ground water management through Atal Bhujal Yojana, which was implemented in 80 water stressed districts in 7 States viz. Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Construction of various rain water harvesting and recharge structures like check dams, ponds, shafts etc. as well as promotion of micro irrigation was taken up under the scheme with an objective to augment the ground water resources and to reduce the strain on them through efficient water management practices. ***** 3