MASTER PLANS FOR CONSERVATION OF
WATER
Water resources schemes,
including master plans, are formulated, planned, planned, executed
and funded by the respective State Governments as water is a state
subject. Master Plans are prepared taking into consideration the
availability of water resources and needs of the areas for which
the Master Plan is prepared.
Conventional methods
of rain water harvesting, construction of dams and minor tanks,
restoration of old tanks, watershed management, are being practised
in the country. Central Ground Water Board under Ministry of Water
Resources has prepared a "Master Plan for Artificial Recharge
to Ground Water’, which envisages recharge of 36453 million cubic
metre volume of water through 2.25 lakh artificial recharge structures
in rural areas like percolation tanks, check dams, sub-surface
dykes, gully plugs, gabion structures, nala bunds, contour bunds,
recharge shafts. In addition to this, roof-top rain water harvesting
structures in urban areas is proposed through 37 lakh structures.
The estimated cost of this Master Plan covering all States and
Union Territories is around Rs. 24,500 crore.
Water conservation
by roof-top rainwater harvesting, selective lining in the conveyance
systems, minimising losses, modernisation and rehabilitation of
existing systems and sprinkler and drip irrigation techniques
are also being adopted.
This information
was given by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources,
Smt. Bijoya Chakravarty in a written reply to a question from
Shri Motilal Vora in the Rajya Sabha today.
