Executive Summary:
This document contains the response of the Minister of State for Jal Shakti to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding water resource management. It outlines steps taken to assess climate risks related to water availability, the role of river basin planning and data sharing, development of hydrological forecasting systems, promotion of inter-state coordination for water distribution, and the strengthening of climate resilience through integrated water resource management. The response references activities and data up to August 21, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Climate Risk Assessment and Planning:**
* States primarily manage water resources; the Central Government provides support through schemes and programs.
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) assesses groundwater resources nationwide, considering climate variability impacts.
* CGWB conducts annual groundwater resource assessments, including in Tamil Nadu, since 2022.
* States/UTs were asked to prepare State Specific Action Plans (SSAPs) to recognize climate risks and strengthen integrated water resources management.
* Financial and technical assistance is provided to States for SSAP preparation; Tamil Nadu's Draft Status Report (DSR) has been approved.
* **River Basin Planning, Aquifer Mapping, and Data Sharing:**
* River basin planning promotes holistic water management.
* The National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) provides detailed aquifer information.
* NAQUIM informs scientific management plans that include supply and demand-side interventions.
* Data sharing builds trust, enables early warning systems, and coordinates responses.
* **Hydrological Forecasting and Early Warning Systems:**
* The Central Water Commission (CWC) issues short-range flood forecasts up to 24 hours in advance.
* CWC monitors and issues inflow forecasts for reservoir regulation.
* CWC operates 350 forecasting stations, with 17 in Tamil Nadu (4 level, 13 inflow).
* During the 2024 flood season, 398 forecasts were issued for Tamil Nadu.
* A Hydrological Observation site exists in Perambalur district, acting as a base station for inflow forecasts.
* **Inter-State Coordination:**
* The Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 facilitates water dispute adjudication.
* Water Disputes Tribunals are formed when negotiations fail.
* Boards/Authorities (e.g., KRMB, GRMB, CWMA) address inter-state issues.
* Inter-state matters are discussed in Zonal Council meetings.
* States are represented in water-related committees.
* **Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM):**
* IWRM integrates water, land, and ecosystem management for sustainability.
* CGWB prepares area-specific groundwater management plans through NAQUIM.
* These plans emphasize judicious groundwater use and recommend supply and demand-side interventions.
* Annual Groundwater Resource Assessments inform timely planning and decentralized strategies.
Impact Analysis:
* State Governments:
* *Impact:* Responsible for primary water resource management, including augmentation, conservation, and efficient use. They also need to prepare and implement State Specific Action Plans.
* *Action Required:* Utilize central government schemes, technical assistance, and groundwater resource assessments to improve water management. Prepare and implement State Specific Action Plans (SSAPs)
* Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):
* *Impact:* Responsible for nationwide groundwater exploration, monitoring, assessment, and aquifer mapping.
* *Action Required:* Continue groundwater assessments, aquifer mapping through NAQUIM, and collaboration with state governments.
* Central Water Commission (CWC):
* *Impact:* Responsible for issuing flood forecasts and monitoring inflow to reservoirs.
* *Action Required:* Maintain and improve flood forecasting network, issue timely forecasts to state governments and project authorities, and coordinate with states on flood management.
* Riparian States:
* *Impact:* Involved in inter-state water disputes and coordination for equitable water distribution.
* *Action Required:* Engage in negotiations for water sharing, participate in relevant boards/authorities, and implement management plans.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: A state in India, mentioned in the context of climate risk assessment, water availability, and flood forecasting.
JAL SHAKTI: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for water resources.
Central Ground Water Board CGWB: An organization carrying out nationwide activities such as groundwater exploration.
National Water Mission NWM: A program under which States/UTs have been asked to prepare their State Specific Action Plans (SSAPs).
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme NAQUIM: A program of the Central Ground Water Board CGWB for aquifer mapping.
Central Water Commission CWC: An organization that issues short range flood forecasts to concerned State Governments.
InterState River Water Disputes ISRWD Act, 1956: An act for adjudication of water disputes among states.
Cauvery: A river basin in India, specifically mentioned in the context of flood forecasting stations in Tamil Nadu.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4666
ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
4666. THIRU ARUN NEHRU:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any steps to assess and plan for climate risks related to
water availability especially in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the role of river basin planning, aquifer mapping and data sharing in water management;
(c) whether hydrological forecasting and early warning systems are being developed in vulnerable areas
like Perambalur in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the manner in which inter-State coordination is being promoted for equitable water distribution; and
(e) the manner in which integrated water resource management strengthens climate resilience and rural
development?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) ‘Water’ being a state subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of
water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement
the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to
them through various schemes and programmes.
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the Ground Water Management and Regulation
(GWMR) Scheme, is carrying out nationwide activities such as groundwater exploration, monitoring of
water levels and water quality, and assessment of groundwater resources to understand the broader
impacts of climate variability and change. CGWB in consultation with State Government has been
conducting the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment annually since 2022 including Tamil
Nadu to provide updated estimates of groundwater availability, extraction, and allocation, which are
essential for assessing the impact of rainfall variability, droughts, and other climate-related stresses on
water resources.
Under National Water Mission (NWM), States & UTs have been asked to prepare their State
Specific Action Plans (SSAPs). SSAPs aim to recognize climate risks and strengthen integrated water
resources management in the context of climate change. Financial assistance of Rs. 50 lakhs to major
States and Rs. 30 lakhs to minor States, along with technical guidance from NIH, Roorkee, and
NERIWALM, Tezpur is being provided to the States. State of Tamil Nadu has prepared first component
of SSAP i.e. Draft Status Report (DSR), which has been approved by the competent authority.
(b) River basin planning, aquifer mapping and data sharing play a crucial role in water management.
River basin planning promotes holistic management of surface and groundwater. Aquifer mapping,
1being undertaken through the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) of
the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), provides detailed information on the geometry,
characteristics, and potential of aquifers. On the basis of these maps, scientific management plans are
prepared, which recommend both supply-side interventions such as artificial recharge and demand-side
measures such as efficient irrigation practices. These plans enable States and Union Territories to adopt
region-specific strategies for water conservation and sustainable groundwater development. Data sharing
builds trust among riparian states and stakeholders and enables early warning systems and coordinated
responses.
(c) As a non-structural measure of flood management, Central Water Commission (CWC) issues short-
range flood forecasts with a lead time up to 24 hrs to concerned State Governments at identified
locations. CWC also monitors and issues inflow forecasts to identified reservoirs for proper reservoir
regulation. Presently, flood forecasts are issued by CWC at 350 stations (150 Inflow Forecast Stations +
200 Level Forecast Stations) as per Standard Operating Procedure. The network has been established in
consultation with State Govt. /Project authorities. The details list of flood forecast stations in Tamil
Nadu is provided in Annexure. During flood season 2024, total 398 number of forecast (20 Level and
378 Inflow) were issued for the State Tamil Nadu.
In Perambalur district, a Hydrological Observation (H.O.) site is located at V. Kalathur on the
Swetha Nadi, a tributary of the Vellar River. V.Kalathur station is base station to Wellington reservoir
(inflow forecast station). In addition to that, the Venganur & Melakalpoondi H.O. Sites also act as base
station to the wellington reservoir which is located in the district of Cuddalore adjoining to Perambalur
district.
(d) Inter-State coordination is being promoted through legal and institutional frameworks for equitable
water distribution. Parliament has enacted Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 for
adjudication of water disputes. When any request under the said Act is received from any State
Government in respect of any water dispute on the inter- State rivers and the Central Government is of
the opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, the Central Government constitutes
a Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication.
There are various Boards/Authorities such as Krishna River Management Board (KRMB),
Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Betwa River Board (BRB), Upper Yamuna River Board
(UYRB), Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) etc to address inter-state issues and
coordination among basin States. Further, inter-State matters are also discussed in respective Zonal
Council meetings. There is proper representation of States in Committees constituted by Government of
India on water related matters.
(e) Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is a holistic approach that integrates water, land,
and ecosystem management to promote sustainability. Through detailed aquifer mapping under
NAQUIM, CGWB prepares scientific and area-specific groundwater management plans. These
management plans emphasize judicious use of groundwater and recommends both supply-side and
demand-side interventions which States can adopt to improve local water security and sustainable
ground water development and management. Similarly, the annual Ground Water Resource Assessments
provide updated information on groundwater availability and stress conditions, allowing for timely
planning to withstand the impacts of climate variability and decentralized planning.
***
2ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.
4666 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 21.08.2025 REGARDING “WATER
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT”.
DETAILS OF CWC FLOOD FORECASTING STATIONS IN TAMILNADU
Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains 17 Flood Forecasting (FF) stations in Tamil Nadu.
Out of 17 forecasting Stations, 04 are level forecasting stations and 13 are inflow forecasting
stations in river Cauvery and its tributaries basin.
Flood Forecasting (FF) stations in Tamil Nadu
Sl.No. Name of the river Name of FF site District
1 2 3 4
Level Forecast
1 Cauvery Musiri(Srirangam) Tiruchirappalli
2 Cauvery Kodumudi (Erode) Erode
3 Bhavani Savandapur (Bhavani) Erode
4 Vaigai Madurai Madurai
Inflow Forecast
1 Cauvery Mettur Dam Salem
2 Bhavani Bhavanisagar Dam Erode
3 Cauvery Grand Anicut Thanjavur
4 Cauvery Upper Anicut Tiruchirappalli
5 Vaigai Vaigai Dam Theni
6 Kosasthaliyar Poondi Satyamurthy Resvr Tiruvallur
7 Kodaganar Kodaganar Dam Dindugul
8 Vellar Gomukhi Dam Villupuram
9 Periyar Odai Wellington Dam Cuddalore (adjoining
Perambalur district)
10 Ponnaiyar Sathanur Dam Tiruvannamalai
11 Adyar Chembarampakkam Lake Tiruvallur
12 Thamirabharoni Manimuthar Dam Tirunelveli
13 Thenprnnai Krishnagiri dam krishnagiri
Source: Central Water Commission
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