(a) whether the Government has issued guidelines and provided fiscal assistance to the State
Governments for traditional water conservation practices, rain water harvesting and
adoption of better water management practice with the use of modern technology;
(b) if so, the details of financial allocation for this purpose, State-wise; and
(c) the feedback earned from the State Governments in this regard during the last three
years?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES & MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI VINCENT H. PALA)
(a) Yes, Sir. The Government has issued guidelines and provided fiscal assistance to the
State Governments for traditional water conservation practices, rain water harvesting and
adoption of better water management practice with the use of modern technology through
various programmes like Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme(AIBP), Command Area
Development and Water Management(CADWM), Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water
bodies, demonstrative recharge projects on rain water harvesting and artificial recharge,
circulation of model bill on ground water and Farmer’s Participatory Action Research
Programme(FPARP).
(b) The details of State-wise financial allocation of demonstrative recharge projects on
rain water harvesting and artificial recharge being implemented during XI Plan as on 11.3.2012
is attached as Annexure I. The State-wise financial assistance provided under CADWM, AIBP a
nd RRR of water bodies is attached as Annexure II, III and IV respectively. Financial assistance
under FPARP is granted institution-wise and not State-wise. So far, an amount of Rs. 35.90
crore has been released to these institutes.
(c) The State Governments avail central assistance under AIBP, CADWM and RRR of water bodies
on regular basis to implement more and more water resources development and management
projects, the details of which during last three years are covered in answer to part (b)
of the Question. The first phase of FPARP was started in 2007-08 and seeing the response
of the farmers/functionaries, its second phase was launched in 2010-11. FPARP has resulted
in saving of water, enhancement of crop yield and enhancement in income of farmers. So far,
11 States/ Union Territories have enacted ground water legislation and 18 States and 4 UTs
have made roof top rain water harvesting mandatory in their respective States.