Recharge of Groundwater in Punjab

?Water? is a State subject, therefore, State Governments are primarily responsible for taking necessary measures for ground water management. As per information received from the State Government, following measures have been taken by Government of Punjab

* Roof top rain water harvesting has been made mandatory in all buildings above 200 sq. yards by amending building by-laws.

* A total of 22 recharge structures have been constructed by the Department of Soil Conservation in Patiala, Sangrur, Moga and Mohali districts.

* The State Government has taken steps to encourage crop diversification, artificial recharge of ground water, controlled and regulated electricity supply in critical area, micro-irrigation and alteration of crop calendar ? encouraging late sowing of paddy after 16th June, etc.

Also Central Ground Water Board under Ministry of Water Resources has implemented ?demonstrative projects? on artificial recharge in the country since IX Plan period for replication by the respective State Governments under similar hydrogeological environments. In Punjab, under the Central Sector Scheme of Artificial Recharge to Ground Water implemented during IX Plan, 21 projects were implemented in the districts of Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Moga, Ropar and Fatehgarh Sahib. During XI Plan, 3 demonstrative projects costing Rs. 2.60 crore have been approved in Moga, Amritsar and TaranTaaran districts under the Central Sector Scheme of Ground Water Management & Regulation. Other measures undertaken by the Central Ground Water Board are as follows:

* Central Ground Water Authority has notified 6 blocks in the State for regulation of ground water development and management.

* CGWA has issued directions to the Chief Secretary for taking necessary measures to promote/ adopt artificial recharge to ground water/ rain water harvesting.

* Mass awareness programmes, Jal Yatra and Water management Training Programmes have been conducted under Information, Education and Communication activities.

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation is implementing the centrally sponsored scheme of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to provide access to safe drinking water to the rural areas including Punjab. Under one of the component of the scheme namely NRDWP(Sustainability), Central Government provides 100% grant to the States which is to be utilized by them on creation of sustainability structures which promotes recharge and conservation of water.

The Minister of State in the Ministry Of Water Resources and Minority Affairs Shri Vincent H. Pala gave this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. YSK/RS
(Release ID :75857)