Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is periodically monitoring the ground water levels throughout the Country including Odisha on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells. About 78.5% of the wells monitored in the country have registered the water level upto 10 meter below ground level (mbgl). State-wise Depth to water level and distribution of percentage of wells for May 2022 is given in Annexure. Further, in Odisha, about 97.8 % of the wells monitored have registered the water level upto 10 mbgl.
Water being State subject, the rainwater harvesting/water conservation for improved water availability in the country falls within States’ mandate, however, Central Government has taken a number of initiatives in this regard in the country including mining areas which can be accessed at web-link :
Further, Central Government works in close collaboration with States/UTs including Odisha through various initiatives/schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Atal Bhujal Yojana in certain identified water stressed areas, MGNREGA, PMKSY-Watershed development etc to supplement the efforts of States/UTs for sustainable management of groundwater. The JSA was launched in 2019 with the primary aim to electively harvest the monsoon rainfall through creation of artificial recharge structures, watershed management, recharge and reuse structures, intensive a forestation and awareness generation etc. The JSA has continued during 2021 and 2022 which were launched by the Prime Minister and President of India respectively.
In addition, Prime Minister launched Amrit Sarovar Mission on 24th April 2022. The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Further, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3(3) of the “Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water by industries, mining projects etc in the country. The latest guideline in this regard with pan-India applicability was notified by the Ministry on 24 September 2020. CGWA and States issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) for extraction of groundwater by mining projects as per their jurisdiction as per extant guidelines.
Water being a State subject, initiatives for water management, including tackling possible health hazards due to contaminated water in the country including Odisha, is primarily States’ responsibility. However, various steps have been taken by the Central Government to make available safe drinking water in the country including Odisha (including mining areas). Some of them are listed as under.
As per information received from Ministry of Mines, sufficient safe guards have been providing in the Rules for preventing contamination of ground water/water bodies during mining. Chapter V of the Mineral Conservation and development rules, 2017 (MCDR, 2017) contains provisions regarding Sustainable Mining: Further Provision has been made under Section 9B of the MMDR Act, 1957 for establishing a District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in mining affected districts with the objective to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations. The funds accrued under the respective DMFs are implemented through the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). Further, as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Mines for implementation of PMKKKY, 60% of the funds accrued under DMF are to be utilized in High Priority Areas which includes Drinking Water.
CGWA groundwater regulation guideline date 24 Sep 2020 includes certain provisions which need to be complied by the Mining projects before extracting the groundwater for their activities.
To make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country by 2024, since August, 2019, Government of India in partnership with States including Odisha, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) –Har Ghar Jal.
Under JJM, while planning for potable water supply to household through tap water connection, priority is to be given to quality-affected habitations. Since, planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply scheme based on a safe water source may take time, purely as an interim measure, States/ UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8–10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet their drinking and cooking requirements.
This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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AS
State-wise Depth to water Level and Distribution of Percentage of Wells for the Period of May, 2022
