1. We know that groundwater management is critical to India’s water, food and livelihood security. Groundwater supports more than 55% of our irrigation requirements, 85% of domestic requirements in rural areas and over 50% of requirements in urban and industrial uses in the country. With water levels declining, we need a national movement for recharge. The first meeting of the Artificial Recharge of Groundwater Advisory Council met this morning to deliberate on how the movement for rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge can be made more effective and transformed into a people’s movement.
The decisions/recommendations of the Council are:
1. The Government of India has constituted a Central Goundwater Authority under the provision of the Environment Protection Act 1986 to control and regulate groundwater development and management in the country. A comprehensive model bill for regulation of groundwater development and management has been framed and circulated to all the states for adoption. The Model Bill provides for the setting up of State Groundwater Authority on similar consideration as the CGWA. The Model Bill also envisages issue of direction to the state local bodies/institutions for making rainwater harvesting mandatory in feasible areas. The Council suggested that those states which have not yet enacted suitable legislation may be persuaded to do so and urged the Ministry to organize a chief minister’s conference as early as possible to discuss these issues.
2. All 1065 blocks categorized as over-exploited/critical and semi-critical need to adopt artificial groundwater recharge measures adopting appropriate area specific technology. The Council felt concerned about this decline and suggested urgent action by the Central Groundwater Board to prioritise action for recharge and rainwater harvesting in these districts.
3. The Council recommended that the Ground Water Board will prioritise the work on the 31 districts, which have been identified as ‘farmers’ distress hot spot’, districts. It will provide assessment of ground water availability and possibility of artificial recharge in these districts. It is necessary to evolve a system of information sharing and access for the civil society in general and farmers in particular to ensure adoption of optimum methods and effective strategies in this regard, so that the present situation where failed borewells are adding to the debt burden of farmers can be ended.
4. With a view to regulate the withdrawal of groundwater, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has circulated a list of 1615 assessment units (over-exploited, critical and semi-critical) to State Pollution Control Boards and the Ministry of Environment & Forests for regulating withdrawal of ground water by industries. It has also notified 20 critical over-exploited areas banning further extraction of ground water and has notified 51 areas for registration of ground water extraction structures for further regulation.
The Council suggests that there is need to regulate large users of groundwater particularly industrial users. The Council resolved to set up a sub-committee to work on a policy for water for industries, which provides the framework for regulation as well as incentives for economic use for large users of groundwater. This policy can be put to the Council at its next meeting for further discussion and finalisation.
5. The Council endorses the recommendation of the National Commission on Farmers that crops like ragi, bajra, jowar and pulses that utilize less water, and are grown by farmers in rainfed areas could be made part of the public distribution system.
6. Artificial Recharge of groundwater aquifers require adoption of different technologies under different ecological and hydro-geological situations. The modern recharge technologies must be integrated with the diversity of community managed traditional water harvesting technologies. The Council suggested that there is a need to develop separate technologies for recharge specifically for urban areas.
7. The Council resolved to set up a sub-committee which takes into account the manuals/material developed by the CGWB and suggest strategies for wider and more effective dissemination of available information and know-how, up to the user level.
The Sub-Committee may comprise the following:-
1. Ms. Sunita Narayan - Chairperson
2. Mr. Anna Hazare
3. Mr. Rajinder Singh
4. Ms. Rohani Nilekani
5. Mr. Achyut Das
6. Member, CGWB
7. JS (Administration), Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India.
8. One media person to be recommended by the Press Council of India.
2. National Congress on Groundwater.
To facilitate the sharing of information a National Congress on Groundwater will be organized once a year for achieving coordination with government agencies, NGOs, industries and academia. An annual award for outstanding village community working on Pani Panchayat will be instituted and given at this Congress. The Ministry will constitute a committee for preparing guidelines for this award.
3. FINALISATION OF MEMBERS UNDER CATEGORY (B) OF RESOLUTION.
Secretaries in-charge of Water Resources of the following States were nominated by the Advisory Council for inclusion as members on rotational basis (for two years):
1. West Bengal
2. Rajasthan
3. Punjab
4. Madhya Pradesh
5. Karnataka
6. Meghalaya
7. J & K
The Advisory Council suggested that there should be a separate representation of the island States in view of specific problems faced by them and recommended nomination of Secretary in-charge of Water Resources of Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a member of the Advisory Council.
4. Follow up on Prime Minister’s Suggestions
1. More crop and income per drop of water
A sub-committee with Prof. M. S. Swaminathan as Chairman and scientists from IARI, ICRISAT, CRIDA, CAZRI, Agricultural Universities and Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board will prepare a paper within two months. This will be considered at the next meeting of the Council.
2. Paani Panchayats
This will be discussed with the Minister for Panchayati Raj and concrete steps will be taken to set up community managed Water Banks.
3. Avoiding failed Bore Wells.
The 31 agrarian distress hot spot areas will be taken up immediately for providing the best available scientific advice.
4. Linkage with the National Rain-fed Area Authority
The Council can function in close coordination with the proposed Authority.
5. Nationwide Campaign for Recharge.
A water literacy movement will be launched, including the use of the Village Knowledge Centres or Gyan Chaupals. A content consortium will be formed for every major agro-climatic zone.
6. Achieving Convergance and Coherence among Government Departments/Agencies.
The Council will function as a platform for Pan-Government of India initiatives and action.
7. Linkages with major National Programmes.
Linkages will be established with NREGS, Bharat Nirman and National Horticulture Mission.
The decisions/recommendations of the Council are:
1. The Government of India has constituted a Central Goundwater Authority under the provision of the Environment Protection Act 1986 to control and regulate groundwater development and management in the country. A comprehensive model bill for regulation of groundwater development and management has been framed and circulated to all the states for adoption. The Model Bill provides for the setting up of State Groundwater Authority on similar consideration as the CGWA. The Model Bill also envisages issue of direction to the state local bodies/institutions for making rainwater harvesting mandatory in feasible areas. The Council suggested that those states which have not yet enacted suitable legislation may be persuaded to do so and urged the Ministry to organize a chief minister’s conference as early as possible to discuss these issues.
2. All 1065 blocks categorized as over-exploited/critical and semi-critical need to adopt artificial groundwater recharge measures adopting appropriate area specific technology. The Council felt concerned about this decline and suggested urgent action by the Central Groundwater Board to prioritise action for recharge and rainwater harvesting in these districts.
3. The Council recommended that the Ground Water Board will prioritise the work on the 31 districts, which have been identified as ‘farmers’ distress hot spot’, districts. It will provide assessment of ground water availability and possibility of artificial recharge in these districts. It is necessary to evolve a system of information sharing and access for the civil society in general and farmers in particular to ensure adoption of optimum methods and effective strategies in this regard, so that the present situation where failed borewells are adding to the debt burden of farmers can be ended.
4. With a view to regulate the withdrawal of groundwater, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has circulated a list of 1615 assessment units (over-exploited, critical and semi-critical) to State Pollution Control Boards and the Ministry of Environment & Forests for regulating withdrawal of ground water by industries. It has also notified 20 critical over-exploited areas banning further extraction of ground water and has notified 51 areas for registration of ground water extraction structures for further regulation.
The Council suggests that there is need to regulate large users of groundwater particularly industrial users. The Council resolved to set up a sub-committee to work on a policy for water for industries, which provides the framework for regulation as well as incentives for economic use for large users of groundwater. This policy can be put to the Council at its next meeting for further discussion and finalisation.
5. The Council endorses the recommendation of the National Commission on Farmers that crops like ragi, bajra, jowar and pulses that utilize less water, and are grown by farmers in rainfed areas could be made part of the public distribution system.
6. Artificial Recharge of groundwater aquifers require adoption of different technologies under different ecological and hydro-geological situations. The modern recharge technologies must be integrated with the diversity of community managed traditional water harvesting technologies. The Council suggested that there is a need to develop separate technologies for recharge specifically for urban areas.
7. The Council resolved to set up a sub-committee which takes into account the manuals/material developed by the CGWB and suggest strategies for wider and more effective dissemination of available information and know-how, up to the user level.
The Sub-Committee may comprise the following:-
1. Ms. Sunita Narayan - Chairperson
2. Mr. Anna Hazare
3. Mr. Rajinder Singh
4. Ms. Rohani Nilekani
5. Mr. Achyut Das
6. Member, CGWB
7. JS (Administration), Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India.
8. One media person to be recommended by the Press Council of India.
2. National Congress on Groundwater.
To facilitate the sharing of information a National Congress on Groundwater will be organized once a year for achieving coordination with government agencies, NGOs, industries and academia. An annual award for outstanding village community working on Pani Panchayat will be instituted and given at this Congress. The Ministry will constitute a committee for preparing guidelines for this award.
3. FINALISATION OF MEMBERS UNDER CATEGORY (B) OF RESOLUTION.
Secretaries in-charge of Water Resources of the following States were nominated by the Advisory Council for inclusion as members on rotational basis (for two years):
1. West Bengal
2. Rajasthan
3. Punjab
4. Madhya Pradesh
5. Karnataka
6. Meghalaya
7. J & K
The Advisory Council suggested that there should be a separate representation of the island States in view of specific problems faced by them and recommended nomination of Secretary in-charge of Water Resources of Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a member of the Advisory Council.
4. Follow up on Prime Minister’s Suggestions
1. More crop and income per drop of water
A sub-committee with Prof. M. S. Swaminathan as Chairman and scientists from IARI, ICRISAT, CRIDA, CAZRI, Agricultural Universities and Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board will prepare a paper within two months. This will be considered at the next meeting of the Council.
2. Paani Panchayats
This will be discussed with the Minister for Panchayati Raj and concrete steps will be taken to set up community managed Water Banks.
3. Avoiding failed Bore Wells.
The 31 agrarian distress hot spot areas will be taken up immediately for providing the best available scientific advice.
4. Linkage with the National Rain-fed Area Authority
The Council can function in close coordination with the proposed Authority.
5. Nationwide Campaign for Recharge.
A water literacy movement will be launched, including the use of the Village Knowledge Centres or Gyan Chaupals. A content consortium will be formed for every major agro-climatic zone.
6. Achieving Convergance and Coherence among Government Departments/Agencies.
The Council will function as a platform for Pan-Government of India initiatives and action.
7. Linkages with major National Programmes.
Linkages will be established with NREGS, Bharat Nirman and National Horticulture Mission.
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