**Executive Summary:**
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures in specific assemblies of Tamil Nadu under the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020. It clarifies the roles of the central and state governments, the status of implementation, impact assessments, and funding for these projects. The response indicates that the implementation and monitoring of water resource projects are primarily the responsibility of the State Governments.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* Water resource management, including conservation, is primarily the responsibility of State Governments.
* The Central Government supplements state efforts.
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) prepared the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India in consultation with States and Union Territories.
* Implementation of the Master Plan guidelines rests with the respective State Governments.
* **Master Plan 2020:**
* The Master Plan 2020 considers Blocks as a unit, and recharge structures are proposed Blockwise.
* The number and type of proposed recharge structures in Karur, Viralimalai, Manapparai, Krishnarayapuram, Aravakurichi, and Vedasandur assemblies are detailed in Annexure.
* The Master Plan has been shared with line departments and the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Information Management System (TNWRIMS) portal.
* No Artificial Recharge structures were proposed and completed under Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater in Karur, Viralimalai, Manapparai, Krishnarayapuram, Aravakurichi and Vedasandur assemblies for the year 2020
* **Impact Assessment and Funding:**
* Tamil Nadu has reported that no impact assessments on groundwater levels have been conducted in the specified assemblies.
* The Central Government supports states financially through existing schemes like MGNREGS, Atal Bhujal, CAMPA, and the 15th Finance Commission.
* No separate scheme/fund has been created specifically for Master Plan implementation.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State Governments (Specifically Tamil Nadu):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for planning, funding, executing, and monitoring water resource projects, including rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge. Also responsible for conducting impact assessment studies on groundwater levels.
* *Action Required:* Implement the guidelines outlined in the Master Plan 2020, potentially using existing schemes for funding. Report on progress and any impact assessments conducted.
* **Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for providing the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water.
* *Action Required:* Continue to support states and union territories in the assessment of water resources.
* **Line Departments (Tamil Nadu):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the effective implementation of the Master Plan.
* *Action Required:* Implement the Master Plan effectively through convergence of existing schemes of the respective State/Central Government.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for water resources.
Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020: A plan prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in consultation with States and Union Territories to assess the feasibility of various recharge structures across India.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): The Central Government organization responsible for preparing the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, responsible for the implementation of water resource management within its borders.
Karur, Tamil Nadu: A district in Tamil Nadu where rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures were proposed under the Master Plan.
Viralimalai, Tamil Nadu: An assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu where rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures were proposed under the Master Plan.
Manapparai, Tamil Nadu: An assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu where rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures were proposed under the Master Plan.
MGNREGS: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, a scheme used for implementing recharge structures.
Atal Bhujal: A scheme used for implementing recharge structures.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3013
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
RAINWATER HARVESTING AND ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE STRUCTURES
3013. MS. S JOTHIMANI
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the number of rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures proposed and completed in
Karur, Viralimalai, Manapparai, Krishnarayapuram, Aravakurichi and Vedasandur assemblies under the
Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater – 2020;
(b) the status of implementation including pending projects and the reasons for delays, if any;
(c) whether any impact assessment has been conducted on groundwater levels and agricultural benefits
in the above said assemblies and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the funds allocated and utilised for groundwater recharge projects in these assemblies during each of
the last three years and the current year?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) Water being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources including its conservation
are studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own
resources and priorities. The Central Government supplements the measures and efforts being taken up
by the State Governments.
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) prepared a “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to
Ground Water in India” in consultation with States and Union Territories (UTs) to assess the feasibility
of various recharge structures suited to the diverse terrain conditions across the country. However, the
responsibility for implementing the guidelines outlined in the Master Plan rests with the respective State
Governments. The Master Plan-2020 is prepared considering Blocks as a unit and recharge structures
are proposed Block-wise. The number and type of rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures
as proposed in Master Plan-2020 in Karur, Viralimalai, Manapparai, Krishnarayapuram, Aravakurichi
and Vedasandur assemblies are provided at Annexure.
The Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water – 2020 compiled by CGWB has been
shared with all the line departments for effective implementation. Further, the block wise data of
feasible Artificial Recharge Structures have been shared with the Tamil Nadu Water Resources
1Information & Management System (TNWRIMS) portal of Government of Tamil Nadu which includes
Water Conservation Planning Module for wide reach & publicity among the line departments for
effective implementation.
Further, as reported by the State of Tamil Nadu, no Artificial Recharge structures were proposed
and completed under Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater in Karur, Viralimalai,
Manapparai, Krishnarayapuram, Aravakurichi and Vedasandur assemblies for the year 2020.
(c) Water being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources including its conservation are
studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources
and priorities. The Central Government supplements the measures and efforts being taken up by the
State Governments. As reported by the State of Tamil Nadu, no studies related to impact assessment on
groundwater level have been carried out in these assemblies.
(d) Water being a State subject, it is mainly the responsibility of the State Governments to manage,
conserve and develop water resources using their own funds and plans. The Central Government
supports and assists the States in these efforts.
The recharge structures recommended in Master Plan-2020 are implemented through convergence
of existing schemes of the respective State/Central Government such as MGNREGS, Atal Bhujal,
CAMPA and 15th Finance Commission, etc and no separate scheme/fund has been envisaged for
implementation.
***
2ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.
3013 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2025 REGARDING “RAINWATER
HARVESTING AND ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE STRUCTURES”.
Block wise Recharge Structures Recommended in the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge - 2020
S. District Block Percolation Check Recharge Recharge Others
No. Pond Dam / Shaft / Trench Farm
Nala Recharge (km) pond /
bund Borewell Recharge
Pit
1 DINDIGUL VEDASANDUR 5 14 150 0 14
2 KARUR ARAVAKURICHI 7 20 214 1 20
3 KARUR KARUR 4 11 118 0 11
4 KARUR KRISHNARAYAPURAM 5 15 164 1 15
5 PUDUKKOTTAI VIRALIMALAI 14 41 439 1 41
6 TRICHY MANAPPARAI 5 15 157 0 15
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