Study on Water Scarcity

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 study “Reassessment of Water Availability in India using Space Inputs” has been carried out by Central Water Commission (CWC) in 2019. As per the study, the average annual water resources of the 20 basins of the country has been assessed as 1999.20 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM). The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependent upon hydro-meteorological and geological factors.  However, water availability per person is dependent on population of the country.

Further, the Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being periodically assessed jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. As per the 2020 assessment, out of the total 6965 assessment units (Blocks/ Taluks/ Mandals/ watersheds/ Firkas) in the country, 1114 units in 15 States/UTs have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’ where the Annual Ground Water Extraction is more than Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource. 270 units have been categorized as ‘Critical’, 1057 units as ‘Semi-Critical’, 4427 units as ‘Safe’ and 97 units as ‘Saline’.

     This information was given by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti,  Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat   in a written  reply in Rajya Sabha  today.

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AS/SK
 

(Release ID: 1739086)
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