PIB News Update: Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria has informed that Water being a State subject, initiatives on sustainable water management including conservation and water harvesting in the Country is primarily States’ responsibility. However, the important measures taken by the Central Government for conservation, management of ground water and effective implementation of rain water harvesting in the country are at the following URL:
http://mowr.gov.in/sites/default/files/Steps_to_control_water_depletion_Jun2019.pdf.
Further, a number of States have done notable work in the field of water conservation/harvesting. Of these, mention can be made of ‘Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan’ in Rajasthan, ‘Jalyukt Shibar’ in Maharashtra, ‘Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan’ in Gujarat, ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in Telangana, Neeru Chettu’ in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, ‘Jal Hi Jeevan’ in Haryana among others.
As per information received from Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, the Model Building Bye Laws, 2016, has been issued for guidance of the States/UTs which has a chapter on ‘Rainwater Harvesting’. The provisions of this chapter are applicable to all the buildings. 33 States / UTs have adopted the rainwater harvesting provisions. The implementation of the rainwater harvesting policy comes within the purview of the State Government/Urban Local Body / Urban Development Authority.
In order to regulate the Over-exploitation and consequent depletion of ground water, the Ministry has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation on the lines of Model Bill.
(b) & (c) As per information received from Ministry of Rural Development, under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provisions vide Schedule-1, section 4(3), Para 4.(1) ‘Category: A: Public works relating to Natural Resource Management Para: (i)’, water conservation and water harvesting structures to augment and improve ground water like underground dykes, earthen dams, stop dams, check dams, percolation tanks with special focus on recharging ground water including drinking water sources are permissible activities.
The expenditure on Water conservation & Water Harvesting related works under MGNREGA during last 5 years as uploaded by the States/UTs are as under:
| Water conservation & Water Harvesting related works | |
| Years | Expenditure in Crore (Rs.) |
| 2018-19 | 10328.5 |
| 2017-18 | 6843.085 |
| 2016-17 | 7943.917 |
| 2015-16 | 5621.353 |
| 2014-15 | 4722.494 |