Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme, which is being implemented since 2007-08 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in the country. Major activities being taken up under the scheme include aquifer mapping for the entire country and other routine activities of CGWB such as ground water level and quality monitoring on regular basis, assessment of dynamic ground water resources as per laid down periodicity in collaboration with States/UTs, regulation and control of ground water withdrawal in certain States/UTs, taking up few demonstrative recharge projects in selected water stressed areas, strengthening of scientific infrastructure for technological upgradation etc.

One of the main activity under the scheme is National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) which is being implemented with the objectives to delineate and characterize the aquifers geometry and develop plans for sustainable ground water management. Aquifer mapping and management program has been completed by 31.03.2023 and has covered about 25 lakh sq.km area of the country. Further, aquifer maps and management plans are being shared with the State for suitable demand side and supply side interventions The State-wise & area wise coverage is presented in Annexure.

Further, under the Scheme, CGWB has also carried out high resolution aquifer mapping using heli-borne geophysical survey in around 1 lakh km² of arid/semi-arid areas which have been completed.

In addition to the above, under GWM&R Scheme, Ground water level and quality are being monitored by the CGWB at regular intervals in the whole country. Further, Ground Water Resource assessment is being carried out throughout the country which since 2022 is being taken up on an annual basis.

To ensure continuity of the activities, the scheme has been approved for implementation till 31^st March 2026 and includes activities like monitoring, assessment and regulation of groundwater resources and strengthening of infrastructure for technological upgradation.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

ANNEXURE

State-wise Coverage under NAQUIM

Sl. No.

State/UT

Total Area (Sq.km)

Area targeted for coverage (sq. km)

Coverage till March 2023 (sq. km)

1

Andaman & Nicobar UT

8,249

1,774

1,774

2

Andhra Pradesh

1,63,900

1,41,784

1,41,784

3

Arunachal Pradesh

83,743

4,703

4,703

4

Assam

78,438

61,826

61,826

5

Bihar

94,163

90,567

90,567

6

Chandigarh UT

115

115

115

7

Chhattisgarh

1,36,034

96,000

96,000

8

Dadra & Nagar Haveli,

602

602

602

9

Daman & Diu UT

1,483

1,483

1,483

10

Goa

3,702

3,702

3,702

11

Gujarat

1,96,024

1,60,978

1,60,978

12

Haryana

44,212

44,179

44,179

13

Himachal Pradesh

55,673

8,020

8,020

14

Jammu & Kashmir UT

1,67,396

9,506

9,506

15

Jharkhand

79,714

76,705

76,705

16

Karnataka

1,91,808

1,91,719

1,91,719

17

Kerala

38,863

28,088

28,088

18

Lakshadweep UT

32

32

32

19

Ladakh UT

54,840

963

963

20

Madhya Pradesh

3,08,000

2,69,349

2,69,349

21

Maharashtra

3,07,713

2,59,914

2,59,914

22

Manipur

22,327

2,559

2,559

23

Meghalaya

22,429

10,645

10,645

24

Mizoram

21,081

700

700

25

Nagaland

16,579

910

910

26

Odisha

1,55,707

1,19,636

1,19,636

27

Puducherry UT

479

454

454

28

Punjab

50,368

50,368

50,368

29

Rajasthan

3,42,239

3,34,152

3,34,152

30

Sikkim

7,096

1,496

1,496

31

Tamil Nadu

1,30,058

1,05,829

1,05,829

32

Telangana

1,11,940

1,04,824

1,04,824

33

Tripura

10,492

6,757

6,757

34

Uttar Pradesh

2,46,387

2,40,649

2,40,649

35

Uttarakhand

53,484

11,430

11,430

36

West Bengal

88,752

71,947

71,947

Total

3294105

2514437

2514437

*****

AS

Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme, which is being implemented since 2007-08 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in the country. Major activities being taken up under the scheme include aquifer mapping for the entire country and other routine activities of CGWB such as ground water level and quality monitoring on regular basis, assessment of dynamic ground water resources as per laid down periodicity in collaboration with States/UTs, regulation and control of ground water withdrawal in certain States/UTs, taking up few demonstrative recharge projects in selected water stressed areas, strengthening of scientific infrastructure for technological upgradation etc.

One of the main activity under the scheme is National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) which is being implemented with the objectives to delineate and characterize the aquifers geometry and develop plans for sustainable ground water management. Aquifer mapping and management program has been completed by 31.03.2023 and has covered about 25 lakh sq.km area of the country. Further, aquifer maps and management plans are being shared with the State for suitable demand side and supply side interventions The State-wise & area wise coverage is presented in Annexure.

Further, under the Scheme, CGWB has also carried out high resolution aquifer mapping using heli-borne geophysical survey in around 1 lakh km² of arid/semi-arid areas which have been completed.

In addition to the above, under GWM&R Scheme, Ground water level and quality are being monitored by the CGWB at regular intervals in the whole country. Further, Ground Water Resource assessment is being carried out throughout the country which since 2022 is being taken up on an annual basis.

To ensure continuity of the activities, the scheme has been approved for implementation till 31^st March 2026 and includes activities like monitoring, assessment and regulation of groundwater resources and strengthening of infrastructure for technological upgradation.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

****

ANNEXURE

State-wise Coverage under NAQUIM

Sl. No.

State/UT

Total Area (Sq.km)

Area targeted for coverage (sq. km)

Coverage till March 2023 (sq. km)

1

Andaman & Nicobar UT

8,249

1,774

1,774

2

Andhra Pradesh

1,63,900

1,41,784

1,41,784

3

Arunachal Pradesh

83,743

4,703

4,703

4

Assam

78,438

61,826

61,826

5

Bihar

94,163

90,567

90,567

6

Chandigarh UT

115

115

115

7

Chhattisgarh

1,36,034

96,000

96,000

8

Dadra & Nagar Haveli,

602

602

602

9

Daman & Diu UT

1,483

1,483

1,483

10

Goa

3,702

3,702

3,702

11

Gujarat

1,96,024

1,60,978

1,60,978

12

Haryana

44,212

44,179

44,179

13

Himachal Pradesh

55,673

8,020

8,020

14

Jammu & Kashmir UT

1,67,396

9,506

9,506

15

Jharkhand

79,714

76,705

76,705

16

Karnataka

1,91,808

1,91,719

1,91,719

17

Kerala

38,863

28,088

28,088

18

Lakshadweep UT

32

32

32

19

Ladakh UT

54,840

963

963

20

Madhya Pradesh

3,08,000

2,69,349

2,69,349

21

Maharashtra

3,07,713

2,59,914

2,59,914

22

Manipur

22,327

2,559

2,559

23

Meghalaya

22,429

10,645

10,645

24

Mizoram

21,081

700

700

25

Nagaland

16,579

910

910

26

Odisha

1,55,707

1,19,636

1,19,636

27

Puducherry UT

479

454

454

28

Punjab

50,368

50,368

50,368

29

Rajasthan

3,42,239

3,34,152

3,34,152

30

Sikkim

7,096

1,496

1,496

31

Tamil Nadu

1,30,058

1,05,829

1,05,829

32

Telangana

1,11,940

1,04,824

1,04,824

33

Tripura

10,492

6,757

6,757

34

Uttar Pradesh

2,46,387

2,40,649

2,40,649

35

Uttarakhand

53,484

11,430

11,430

36

West Bengal

88,752

71,947

71,947

Total

3294105

2514437

2514437

*****

AS