SHORTAGE OF WATER
The Central Ground
Water Authority (CGWA) has identified areas showing decline in
ground water levels. However, no study has been undertaken by
CGWA for estimation of shortage of ground water in the years to
come.
The population of
the country is growing rapidly, the demand of water has also increased
and the same will increase further during next decade.
In order to augment
the availability of water for various uses especially for efficient
use, schemes are planned, investigated, formulated, implemented
and funded by the State Governments out of their own resources
and as per their priorities. To help the State Governments in
their effort, technical and financial assistance is provided by
the Ministry of Rural Development under Accelerated Rural Water
Supply programme. Government of India is also promoting rain water
harvesting through artificial recharge of ground water and roof
top rain water harvesting. For meeting future requirements of
water, as a long term measure, National Water Development Agency
(NWDA) have formulated National Perspective Plan for water resources
development, which envisages inter-linking various Peninsular
rivers and Himalayan rivers for transfer of water from surplus
basin to water deficit basins.
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 Raju Parmar in the Rajya Sabha today.