**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1137 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 5, 2026, regarding the restoration of lakes, ponds, wells, and step-wells for groundwater management. It details the Ministry of Jal Shakti's efforts, including water body census, central assistance to states, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and aquifer mapping. Annexures provide state-wise data on water bodies and central assistance.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Water Body Census:**
* The Ministry of Jal Shakti conducted the first Census of Water Bodies in 33 States/UTs with 100% central assistance.
* The census references the year 2017-18 and includes lakes, ponds, and tanks.
* Details on the number of water bodies and the number 'in use' can be found in Annexure-I.
* **Central Assistance (CA) for Irrigation Potential:**
* The Ministry provides CA to States for the creation and restoration of Irrigation Potential (I.P.) under the Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies schemes, part of ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Har Khet Ko Pani' (PMKSY-HKKP).
* A Central Assistance of Rs. 376.12 crore has been released during the last five years.
* Mother Sanction amounting to Rs. 218.265 crore has been issued during FY2025-26 till date for ongoing RRR schemes under PMKSY-HKKP.
* State-wise details for the last five years are provided in Annexure-II.
* **Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA):**
* The Ministry launched JSA in 2019 as a time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign in 256 water-stressed districts.
* Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) was expanded pan India in 2021.
* JSA: CTR focuses on water conservation and rainwater harvesting, water body inventory, scientific plans, Jal Shakti Kendras, afforestation, and awareness generation.
* The 6th edition of JSA: CTR was launched on March 22, 2025.
* Under JSJB 1.0, 27.62 lakh artificial groundwater recharge and storage works were taken up, with 23.83 lakh already completed by May 31st 2025.
* **Aquifer Mapping and Management:**
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has undertaken an Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme under the Ground Water Management and Regulation scheme.
* The National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Project has mapped approximately 25 Lakh sq. km of the country.
* Aquifer maps and management plans have been shared with State agencies.
* CGWB has implemented artificial recharge projects to enable State replication in suitable hydrogeological conditions.
* **Encroachment of Water Bodies:**
* Action on reported encroachment falls under the purview of the State Government.
* The Union Government sensitizes State Governments regarding the importance of water bodies and emphasizes steps such as preventing illegal construction, including water bodies in land records, town planning, and taking strict action against encroachers.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for taking action on encroachment of water bodies.
* Responsible for implementing Aquifer Management Plans.
* Receive central assistance for irrigation and restoration.
* **Action Required:**
* Take necessary steps to prevent encroachment of water bodies.
* Implement management plans for Aquifer mapping and regulation
* Utilize Central Assistance for creation and restoration of irrigation.
**Ministry of Jal Shakti**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for conducting census and providing central assistance.
* Responsible for creating and implementing water conservation campaigns
* **Action Required:**
* Monitor state governments' actions to ensure effective protection of water bodies.
* Monitor the implementation of JSA and provide guidance to State Governments.
**Citizens**
* **Impact:**
* Influenced by conservation of water and groundwater levels.
* **Action Required:**
* Participate in initiatives to conserve water through collective efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: Central ministry responsible for water resources, river development, and Ganga rejuvenation.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): A time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Har Khet Ko Pani' (PMKSY-HKKP): Scheme for creation and restoration of irrigation potential.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): Organization that has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme
India: The country in which the restoration and management of lakes/ponds/wells/step-wells is taking place.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1137
ANSWERED ON 05.02.2026
RESTORATION OF LAKES/PONDS/WELLS/STEP-WELLS FOR GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT
†1137. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the number of lakes, ponds, water tanks, wells and step-wells in the country along with their current
status;
(b) the details of the efforts made for their renovation and restoration for groundwater management
during the last five years, State-wise;
(c) the methods being adopted to recharge groundwater;
(d) whether the Government is aware that lakes, ponds, water tanks, wells and step-wells have been
illegally encroached upon by anti-social elements in various parts of the country; and
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken against such encroachers so that groundwater
can be protected for the future, State-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Ministry of Jal Shakti has conducted the 1st Census of Water Bodies in 33 States/UTs under the
Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Irrigation Census” with reference year 2017-18 with 100% central
assistance. Details on number of water bodies including lakes, ponds, tanks etc. along with number of
water bodies ‘in use’ are given at Annexure-I.
(b) & (c) Ministry provides Central Assistance (CA) to States for creation and restoration of Irrigation
Potential (I.P.) under the Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR)
of Water Bodies schemes which is a part of ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana- Har Khet Ko
Pani’ (PMKSY-HKKP). Under this scheme, Ministry has released a Central Assistance amounting to
Rs. 376.12 crore during last five years. Also, Mother Sanction amounting to Rs. 218.265 crore has been
issued during FY2025-26 till date to the States for the implementation of ongoing RRR of Water Bodies
schemes under PMKSY-HKKP. State wise details during last five years are given in Annexure-II.
The Ministry has launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019 as a time-bound, mission-mode
water conservation campaign in 256 water-stressed districts. Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA:
CTR) with the tagline: Catch The Rain, Where It falls, When It Falls, was expanded pan India in 2021,
1with five focused interventions (1) water conservation and rainwater harvesting (2) enumerating, geo-
tagging & making inventory of all water bodies; preparation of scientific plans for water conservation
based on it (3) setting up of Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts (4) intensive afforestation and (5)
awareness generation. The Abhiyan was scaled up to cover all districts, blocks, and municipalities
across the country (rural as well as urban).
The 6th edition of JSA: CTR was launched on 22nd March 2025 with the theme “Jal Sanchay, Jan
Bhagidari: Jan Jagrukta Ki Or”. The objective of Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) is to ensure that
every drop of water is conserved through collective efforts, following a whole-of-society and whole-of-
government approach. Under JSJB 1.0, total 27.62 lakh artificial groundwater recharge and storage
works were taken up, with 23.83 lakh already completed by 31st May 2025.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under Ministry of Jal shakti has taken up Aquifer Mapping
and Management Programme under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation. Under
National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Project, the entire mappable area of about 25 Lakh sq. km of the
country has been completed. The Aquifer maps and management plans have been prepared and shared
with the respective State agencies for implementation. The management plans include various water
conservation measures through recharge structures. Under Ground Water Management & Regulation
scheme, CGWB has implemented several successful artificial recharge projects in the country for
demonstrative purpose which enables the State Governments to replicate the same in suitable hydro
geological conditions.
(d) & (e) Action on reported encroachment of water bodies comes under the purview of the State
Government concerned. However, the Union Government has been sensitizing the State Governments
regarding importance of water bodies. Need for taking necessary steps for keeping the water bodies
encroachment free, such as stopping illegal construction, inclusion of water bodies in land records and
making them integral part of town planning process, strict action against encroachers, etc. are also being
emphasized to the State Governments by Union Government, from time to time.
***
2ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION
NO. †1137 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.02.2026 REGARDING
“RESTORATION OF LAKES/PONDS/WELLS/STEP-WELLS FOR GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT”
Type-wise number of water bodies and number of ‘in use’ water bodies in the country as per 1st
Water Bodies Census
Type of Water body Total Number of Number of Water
Water bodies bodies in use
Ponds 14,42,993 11,81,077
Tanks 3,81,805 3,15,974
Lakes 22,361 9,558
Reservoirs 2,92,280 2,89,163
Water Conservation Schemes/percolation 2,26,217 1,88,915
tanks/check dams
Other 58,884 45,353
Total 24,24,540 20,30,040
3ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) & (c) OF THE UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. †1137 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.02.2026 REGARDING
“RESTORATION OF LAKES/PONDS/WELLS/STEP-WELLS FOR GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT”
State –wise details of CA release under the RRR of Water Bodies component of PMKSY-HKKP
(Rs. In crore)
S.No. State 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
1 Bihar 0 8.62 7.28 7.78 0
2 Gujarat 0 0 3.16 2.57 0
3 Manipur 0 0 0 3.7 0
4 Nagaland 0 0 0 5.61 10.13
5 Odisha 34.54 0 11.10 56.25 46.67
6 Rajasthan 0 0 9.30 10.46 35.99
7 Tamil Nadu 1.25 17.43 27.70 49.60 26.98
Total 35.79 26.05 58.54 135.97 119.77
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