Parliament Question: Urban Water Recycling

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4753 ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025 URBAN WATER RECYCLING 4753. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN: Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is taking steps to promote large-scale urban water recycling through decentralised treatment plants and smart reuse technologies; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the new schemes proposed to recharge rapidly depleting groundwater in the coastal belts of Kerala and other water-stressed areas; and (c) the nature and impact of the ongoing awareness campaigns under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and other programmes for community engagement in water conservation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY) (a) & (b) Water being a State subject, the responsibility for the conservation, planning, evaluation, funding, and execution of water resource management including water recycling rests primarily with the State Governments, based on their own priorities and available resources. The Central Government supplements the measures and efforts being taken up by the State Governments. As part of ongoing initiatives to support States in achieving sustainable water management and conservation, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has undertaken several measures to promote urban water recycling through decentralised treatment plants and smart reuse technologies. The Government of India continues to encourage the reuse of treated wastewater across a range of non-potable applications, including in the industrial and agricultural sectors. As per the guidelines notified by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has issued regulations governing groundwater extraction by industries, infrastructure projects and mining activities.  Infrastructure projects (including urban projects) drawing groundwater 20KLD or more are required to install STP and use the treated water for greenbelt development/washing of cars etc.  Industries are required to reduce their water consumption through recycle/reuse of water. Conditions in the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by CGWA as per these guidelines, inter-alia, include the condition that ‘Wherever feasible, requirement of water for greenbelt (horticulture) shall be met from recycled/treated waste water’. 1The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also prepared a ‘Guidelines for Utilization of Treated Effluent (Industrial) in Irrigation’ (https://cpcb.nic.in/NGT/Guidelines-UTE-Irrigation.pdf) Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G), various initiatives are being implemented to promote domestic wastewater treatment and greywater reuse and recycling at both household and community levels. Low-cost, decentralized systems such as soak pits, leach pits, and magic pits are tailored to suit local soil and space conditions for effective greywater management. Households are also encouraged to reuse greywater for kitchen gardens, reducing freshwater demand. At the community level, solutions like community leach pits, waste stabilization ponds, constructed wetlands, Phytorid systems, DEWATS, and soil biotechnology (SBT) are adopted based on population size, land availability, and geography. Treated wastewater from these systems is reused for irrigation, landscaping, toilet flushing, industrial use, construction, groundwater recharge, and aquaculture in rural areas. Under AMRUT, 890 sewerage/ septage management projects worth ₹34,446.64 crore are implemented, resulting in the creation of 4,622.61 MLD of sewage treatment capacity, including 1,437 MLD for recycle and reuse. National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is taking steps for promoting reuse of treated water in Ganga basin. A National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Water has been prepared and released by NMCG, supported by the India–EU Water Partnership. Besides this, a toolkit for preparation of city level action plans has also been released by NMCG in coordination with National Institute of Urban Affairs and Council of Energy, Environment, and Water. Safe Reuse of Treated water has also been included as one of the ten pillars of Urban River Management Plan in Ganga basin. As per the information provided by the Kerala Government, the State Ground Water Department is implementing artificial groundwater recharge measures under the state plan scheme "Groundwater conservation and recharge" for conserving and recharging ground water. This scheme focuses on recharging groundwater through various methods like dug well recharge, rain pits and bore wells recharge through rooftop rainwater harvesting, construction of small check dams and the renovation of open ponds for ensuring the sustainability of groundwater sources. Rs. 6 crore is allocated for the said scheme in the current financial year and special attention is given to water stressed areas such as critical and semi-critical blocks for implementation, indicating a targeted approach to areas facing water scarcity. However, the Department has not proposed any new scheme to recharge ground water in the coastal belts of Kerala. Apart from the above state scheme, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019 as a time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign in 256 water-stressed districts of the country. The Hon'ble Prime Minister launched “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA: CTR) in 2021 with the tagline “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls”. The Abhiyan was scaled up to cover all districts, blocks, and municipalities across the country including the coastal belts of Kerala. The details of JSA:CTR campaign in Kerala is attached at Annexure I. To further strengthen JSA: CTR, “Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari” (JSJB) initiative was launched in Surat, Gujarat on 06th September, 2024, which focuses on intensifying community mobilization to build low cost rainwater harvesting structures in saturation mode. The Jal Sanchay programme started in Gujarat by 2leveraging community funds, individual donations, Corporate Social Responsibility Funds etc. for construction of low cost structures like borewells, recharge shafts, recharge pits, using locally available material, to harvest rainwater, to boost ground water level and provide low cost local tailor made solution to water issues. As of 13th August, 2025, a cumulative total of 33.73 lakhs artificial recharge and storage structures have been reported under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative. The details of JSJB for the State of Kerala is attached at Annexure II(a) & II(b). (c) ‘Water’ being a State subject, the responsibility for the conservation and management of water resources, including public awareness generation, primarily rests with the State Governments and local bodies. However, the Government of India has undertaken several initiatives including Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) across the country to sensitize the public about the importance of water conservation and to promote behavioural changes in water usage patterns. Awareness generation is one of the five focused interventions of JSA: CTR campaign which aims at spreading public awareness about water-related challenges and the importance of conservation, with an emphasis on turning water conservation into a people’s movement (Jan Andolan). To further deepen public involvement, "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari" (JSJB) initiative was launched in Surat, Gujarat on 6th September 2024. This initiative encourages collective action by communities, civil society, and local governments to implement low-cost, locally appropriate water conservation solutions under a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. As part of this initiative, the National Water Mission (NWM) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with various agencies, organizes several community awareness programs to highlight the importance of water conservation. To further enhance outreach, the National Water Mission (NWM) collaborated with the Department of Youth Affairs, leveraging the extensive network of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and its youth clubs including those in Bihar to mobilize grassroots participation in water conservation efforts under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign. As part of JSA: CTR, States and Union Territories have been requested to establish Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs) in all districts. These Kendras function as resource and knowledge centers, providing information on water-related issues, showcasing best practices, offering technical support, and serving as local hubs for water conservation strategies. 712 Jal Shakti Kendras have been established across the country. Additionally, Information, Education & Communication (IEC) activities are undertaken regularly by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to disseminate key messages on water conservation. The Department also utilizes social media platforms to share informative content and highlight various programmes and achievements in this domain. In addition, the Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the National Water Awards to acknowledge and encourage exemplary efforts in the field of water resources management. These awards are conferred in multiple categories including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Industry, among others. The Awards highlight and celebrate successful models of water conservation and motivate replication of such practices. 3The Ministry of Jal Shakti, through the Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman initiative, celebrates and acknowledges the exemplary contributions of women in promoting water conservation, sustainable sanitation, and hygiene practices. This recognition highlights the crucial role women play in leading community-driven efforts toward water conservation and its sustainable use. Moreover, under the ongoing Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA:CTR) campaign, several innovative models of groundwater recharge and water conservation are observed across various regions which showcasing the diversity of locally adapted and community-driven solutions. A separate outreach initiative, “Dialogue with DMs”, has also been organized since August 2020, where District Magistrates/ Collectors/Deputy Commissioners share their field-level innovations and experiences in water conservation, fostering cross-learning and inspiring replication of successful practices. Additionally, CGWB conducts Public Interaction Programme (PIP) to sensitize and create awareness among various stakeholders including farmers on various aspects of water conservation and ground water management in Bihar. A total number of 70 PIPs are conducted during 2019 to 2025, in which 6986 people participated. Apart from this, 25 nos. of Tier-III training program were also conducted during 2012 to 2025, in which a total of 3339 people were made aware about the sustainable water use and conservation practices along with other ground water issues. Also, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has undertaken comprehensive public awareness campaigns to foster a sense of responsibility and engagement among the public in efforts to clean and conserve the Ganga River through educational materials, community outreach, school programs, mass media campaigns, and online engagement. SwachhtaPakhwada Ganga Utsav, Ganga Run, Ganga Rafting expeditions, treks, Ghat pe Haat with a social message, and several activities are also taken up. 139 District Ganga Committees (DGCs) are formed and their mandated monthly meetings are done to encourage decentralization and ensure people’s participation. NMCG has taken various steps to address river and water-related challenges, along with various IEC campaigns to create awareness, sensitize people, and ensure Nirmal Ganga and Aviral Ganga. Namami Gange, along with Border Security Force, jointly organized a 53-day- long all-women river rafting expedition as an outreach activity showcasing women empowerment and Ganga rejuvenation. This expedition exemplifies the power of women in leadership, as they come together to carry forward the message of environmental conservation and women empowerment. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) awareness campaigns significantly enhance community engagement in water conservation by promoting responsible water usage, reducing water wastage, and fostering a sense of ownership for water resources. These campaigns educate communities about the importance of safe drinking water, encourage participation in water management, and empower them to monitor water quality. The Mission is based on a community approach to water and includes extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) as a key component. These combined efforts aim to foster sustained awareness and encourage responsible water-use behaviour across various sections of society. *** 4ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4753 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING “URBAN WATER RECYCLING”. Jal Shakti Abhiyan:Catch the Rain National Water Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti KERALA - Intervention wise Progress (Status from 22-03-2021 to 19-08-2025) Water Renovation of Reuse and Total Water Conservation Watershed Intensive JSA Year Traditional Recharge Related Works and Rain Water Development Afforestation Water Bodies Structures (Year-wise) Harvesting 2021 30008 9592 20972 66818 127390 433691 2022 21432 9352 15631 67782 114197 378807 2023 29073 15573 28757 97673 171076 19419 2024 25558 15018 35039 91099 166714 13366 2025 8140 3402 7462 30294 49298 3389 Total 114211 52937 107861 353666 628675 848672 5ANNEXURE-II(a) ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4753 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING “URBAN WATER RECYCLING”. KERALA - District-wise progress under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0 (Status as on 31.05.2025) S.No State District Completed Works 1 KERALA ALAPPUZHA 17 2 KERALA ERNAKULAM 108 3 KERALA IDUKKI 107 4 KERALA KANNUR 171 5 KERALA KASARAGOD 574 6 KERALA KOLLAM 65 7 KERALA KOTTAYAM 96 8 KERALA KOZHIKODE 58 9 KERALA MALAPPURAM 39 10 KERALA PALAKKAD 3142 11 KERALA PATHANAMTHITTA 118 12 KERALA THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 226 13 KERALA THRISSUR 536 14 KERALA WAYANAD 139 Total 5396 ANNEXURE-II(b) ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4753 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING “URBAN WATER RECYCLING”. Kerala - District-wise progress under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 2.0 (Status as on 19.08.2025) S.No State District Completed Work OngoingWork Total Work 1 KERALA ALAPPUZHA 0 1 1 2 KERALA ERNAKULAM 0 1 1 3 KERALA IDUKKI 0 67 67 4 KERALA KANNUR 95 32 127 5 KERALA KASARAGOD 0 56 56 6 KERALA KOLLAM 0 3 3 7 KERALA KOTTAYAM 0 37 37 8 KERALA KOZHIKODE 248 0 248 9 KERALA MALAPPURAM 0 28 28 10 KERALA PALAKKAD 0 2691 2691 11 KERALA PATHANAMTHITTA 0 362 362 12 KERALA THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 0 193 193 13 KERALA THRISSUR 0 611 611 14 KERALA WAYANAD 0 153 153 Total 343 4235 4578 ***** 6