Rs 6,000-crore World Bank-backed scheme proposed to manage groundwater resources

Rs 6,000-crore World Bank-backed scheme proposed to manage groundwater resources NEW DELHI: Facing a sharp decline in groundwater level in many parts of the country due to over exploitation of existing resources, the Centre has proposed a new World Bank-backed Rs 6,000 crore scheme to manage groundwater resources in India. Half of the total cost of the scheme, called National

Groundwater Management Improvement Scheme (NGMIS), will be supported by the World Bank as loan while the remaining half (Rs 3,000 crore) will be funded by the government through budgetary support. "The World Bank Board is expected to formally approve the funding for the Scheme by April. The fund under NGMIS will be used for capacity building, institutional reforms and infrastructure development", said a senior water resources ministry official. Infrastructure development includes building recharge structure\facilities for utilising rain water directly from roof top, creating rain water harvesting structures for conserving surplus run-off and recharging ground water in aquifers.

An official note of the ministry said that the scheme would be meant for "sustainable management of ground water by addressing supply as well as demand side to reduce ground water consumption".

Through the NGMIS will be implemented across the country, special focus will be on states having 'dark' (over-exploited) zones where the withdrawal of water is more than the recharge.

These states include Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh (Bundelkhand region and parts of western UP) and Madhya Pradesh (Bundelkhand region). Indiscriminate use of ground water, mainly for irrigation, has increased the number of over-exploited units from 802 in March, 2009 to 1,071 in March, 2011 in the country.

The over-exploited units are mostly concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western UP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

The information document of the World Bank on the scheme noted that the programme would be implemented during 2017-2022 period. It is being designed in coordination with existing programmes and activities including MGNREGA, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) as well as the National Hydrology Project (NHP). The programme will also have a 'performance-based incentive' system as its key component to reward states and local authorities for improvement in groundwater management. The NGMIS will also look after the policy aspects of irrigation efficiency, crop diversification and artificial recharge in the areas which witnessed uncontrolled and unplanned groundwater extraction over the last 50 years.

India annually extracts 245 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) of groundwater which accounts for nearly 25% of the total global groundwater abstraction. About 222 BCM out of 245 BCM of groundwater is being used annually for irrigation while remaining 23 BCM is consumed by domestic and industry sector.

The water resources ministry will coordinate implementation of the programme which includes clear targets for groundwater recharge, water use efficiency and aquifer protection by participating states.

The proposed programme will be in addition to what the World Bank is already supporting to improve the extent, quality and accessibility of water resources information system and strengthen the capacity of water resource professional and management institutions in India.