Parliament Question: Atal Bhujal Yojana in Rajasthan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3211 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA IN RAJASTHAN †3211. Shri HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the number of Gram Panchayats declared as ‘Over-exploited’ or ‘Critical’ by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Rajasthan including Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts as on date;

(b) the details of the physical and financial progress of the Atal Bhujal Yojana

(ABY) in Rajasthan including Water Security Plans (WSPs), funds released and recharge structures constructed as on date;

(c) whether any independent evaluation of ABY has been conducted in Rajasthan and if so, the details and the major findings thereof along with the corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken in this regard; and

(d) the status of convergence between ABY and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for the construction of recharge structures in overexploited blocks of Rajasthan? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being assessed annually since 2022 jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the respective State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. The assessment, done at the Block/Mandal/Taluka/Tehsil/District (as applicable), provides scientific estimation of Annual Ground Water Recharge, Annual 1Extractable Ground Water Resource, Annual Ground Water Extraction and Stage of Ground Water Extraction. Based on the assessment, the assessment units are categorized as ‘Safe’, ‘Semi-Critical’, ‘Critical’ and ‘Over-Exploited’.

The results of the assessment are made available in the public domain through CGWB's online portal. CGWB does not declare Gram Panchayats as Over- exploited, Critical, Semi-Critical or Safe.

As per the Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment, 2025, a total of 302 assessment units has been assessed in Rajasthan, out of which 36 assessment units have been categorized as ‘Safe’, 27 as ‘Semi-Critical’, 23 as ‘Critical’, 213 as ‘Over-Exploited’ and 3 as ‘Saline’.

In Tonk district, 1 assessment unit (Uniara), has been categorized as ‘Critical’ and 2 assessment units (Malpura and Niwai), have been categorized as ‘Over-Exploited’. In Sawai Madhopur district, no assessment unit has been categorized as ‘Critical’, while 6 assessment units, (Gangapur, Sawai Madhopur, Chauth Ka Barwara, Khandar, Bonli and Bamanwas), have been categorized as ‘Over-Exploited’.

(b) 1132 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in 38 blocks in 17 districts of Rajasthan were covered under the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY), and Water Security Plans were prepared in all these 1132 GPs. The details of activities / works done under ABY

in the State of Rajasthan are as under:

Number of Monitoring Mapping of Area brought Supply-side trainings of wells existing under efficient structures conducted at water water-use constructed / State / District conservati practices like renovated like / Block / Gram on and drip, sprinklers, check dams, Panchayat artificial crop ponds, level recharge diversification recharge structures etc. shafts, etc.

(in Hectares) 17782 17685 19693 89969.88 19126 The details of the total funds released /assigned to the State of Rajasthan

and utilized by the State of Rajasthan under the ABY are as under:

2(Amount in Rs. crore) State Funds disbursed Funds utilized Rajasthan 514.84 513.60

(c) Overall Impact Assessment Study of Atal Bhujal Yojana has been conducted by Quality Council of India (QCI). On the basis of detailed field surveys in the scheme implementation areas and interactions with local communities, the study has recognized important changes brought about by the scheme, like enhanced community awareness on ground water issues through capacity building and IEC activities, women's participation in leadership and decision making in groundwater management, social inclusivity and overall knowledge enhancement and willingness of the community to partake in groundwater conservation and water management. A copy of this Report is available on the website of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation at web-link:

https://www.jalshakti- dowr.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/07/597fd8727a8d10641bd33d7d22ce0459.pdf

(d) Convergence amounting to Rs.392.92 crore was undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for the creation/renovation of 3,309 supply-side structures under Atal Jal in 26 over-exploited blocks of Rajasthan.

***** 3