Parliament Question: National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3008 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 NATIONAL AQUIFER MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

3008. Shri VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Shri ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Shri DAMODAR AGRAWAL:

Smt. SANJNA JATAV:

Shri TEJASVI SURYA:

Smt. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

Shri G M HARISH BALAYOGI:

Smt. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

Shri MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY:

Shri BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

Shri KHAGEN MURMU:

Shri YADUVEER WADIYAR:

Shri SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:

Smt. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:

Shri BALABHADRA MAJHI:

Shri AVIMANYU SETHI:

Shri BUNTY VIVEK SAHU:

Shri TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT:

SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

SHRI GODAM NAGESH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any review of the implementation of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM 2.0) in 1the country and if so, the details and the major outcomes thereof, State-wise, particularly in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh including Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituency and Odisha including Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency;

(b) the progress achieved in high-resolution aquifer mapping and preparation of area-specific groundwater management plans under the programme in the country, State-wise, particularly in Maharashtra including Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituency, district-wise in Andhra Pradesh including Konaseema district and district-wise in Madhya Pradesh including Dewas and Shajapur districts;

(c) the details of the mechanism established to facilitate utilisation of scientific inputs generated under NAQUIM 2.0 by various State Governments including the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, Panchayati Raj Institutions and local bodies for groundwater planning and management;

(d) the manner in which the said programme is expected to strengthen evidence-based groundwater management and the steps taken to promote evidence-based sustainable groundwater management, climate-resilient water management in the country, particularly in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh including Konaseema district and Madhya Pradesh including Dewas Shajapur Lok Sabha Constituency;

(e) whether the Government proposes to extend NAQUIM 2.0 interventions to groundwater stressed areas in Jalgaon Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the funds allocated, released and utilised for implementation of NAQUIM 2.0 in Andhra Pradesh during the last three years? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(a) to (e) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has completed aquifer mapping under the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM 1.0), covering about 25 lakh sq. km of the identified mappable area of the country and has shared aquifer maps and Aquifer Management Plans with 2the concerned State Governments. Building upon this, NAQUIM 2.0 was initiated in 2023 for preparation of high-resolution aquifer maps and issue-specific groundwater management plans in identified priority areas such as water- stressed regions, groundwater quality-affected areas, urban agglomerations, industrial clusters, coastal aquifers and springsheds.

NAQUIM 2.0, approved in 2023, provides for 143 studies covering areas about 76,857 sq. km across the country during 2023-24 to 2025-26. These studies generate high-resolution scientific information on aquifer characteristics, groundwater availability and quality, recharge potential and groundwater stress, which form the basis for preparation of area-specific Aquifer Management Plans recommending suitable supply-side and demand-side interventions. The aquifer maps, groundwater data and management plans are shared with the concerned State Governments, District Administrations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies and other stakeholders for integration into groundwater recharge, sustainable groundwater development, water-resource planning and climate-resilient groundwater management. CGWB also undertakes stakeholder consultations, dissemination workshops and capacity-building programmes to facilitate effective utilisation of the scientific outputs under the programme. The programme facilitates evidence-based groundwater management by providing scientific inputs for groundwater recharge, sustainable groundwater development, climate-resilient water- resource planning and convergence with various Central and State Government programmes.

The State/area-wise status of NAQUIM 2.0 studies and the major outcomes in respect of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, including the districts and Lok Sabha

Constituencies referred to in the Question are given below: i. Maharashtra: NAQUIM 2.0 covers eight identified study areas with an aggregate area of about 8,371 sq. km, selected on the basis of scientific prioritisation of water-stressed areas, groundwater quality-affected areas, 3urban agglomerations, industrial clusters, coastal aquifers and springsheds. Jalgaon district was covered under NAQUIM 1.0 and its Aquifer Management Plan, published in 2022, recommended construction of 617 artificial recharge structures with an estimated recharge potential of about 39.64 Million Cubic Metres (MCM) and adoption of micro-irrigation over about 464.05 sq. km, with an estimated groundwater saving of about

156.57 MCM. Jalgaon district is not among the identified study areas under NAQUIM 2.0. ii. Andhra Pradesh: NAQUIM 2.0 covers five identified study areas with an aggregate area of about 3,155 sq. km in selected urban agglomerations and water-stressed areas. Konaseema district was covered under NAQUIM

1.0 over a mappable area of about 2,079.95 sq. km. The Aquifer Management Plan delineated five aquifer systems and recommended artificial recharge, conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater, management of waterlogging and protection of coastal aquifers.

Konaseema district is not among the identified study areas under NAQUIM

2.0. iii. Uttarakhand: NAQUIM 2.0 covers four identified study areas with an aggregate area of about 3,567 sq. km for preparation of high-resolution aquifer maps and area-specific groundwater management plans. The studies generated scientific information on aquifer characteristics, groundwater availability and quality, recharge potential and suitable supply-side and demand-side interventions for sustainable groundwater management.

iv. Rajasthan: NAQUIM 2.0 covers five identified study areas with an aggregate area of about 1,410 sq. km. Under NAQUIM 1.0, about 3.43 lakh sq. km covering the then 33 districts of the State was mapped and the aquifer maps and Aquifer Management Plans were shared with the State Government for evidence-based groundwater planning and management.

4v. Madhya Pradesh: NAQUIM 2.0 covers six identified study areas with an aggregate area of about 3,640 sq. km. Dewas and Shajapur districts were covered under NAQUIM 1.0, under which the respective Aquifer Management Plans recommended construction of 3,313 artificial recharge structures in Dewas district and 856 in Shajapur district. The plans also recommend demand-side measures such as micro-irrigation, crop diversification and improved water-use efficiency for sustainable groundwater management. Dewas and Shajapur districts are not among the identified study areas under NAQUIM 2.0.

vi. Odisha: NAQUIM 2.0 covers eight identified study areas with an aggregate area of about 2,990 sq. km in selected coastal, industrial, mining, urban, water-stressed and groundwater quality-affected areas. Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency is not among the identified study areas under NAQUIM

2.0.

(f) Under the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM

2.0), CGWB undertakes scientific studies for preparation of high-resolution aquifer maps and area specific Aquifer Management Plans under the Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWMR) Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme.

Funds under the GWMR Scheme are utilised by CGWB for carrying out these studies and are not released to the State Governments. Since water is a State subject, planning, funding, implementation of water resources projects, including implementation of the recommendations contained in the Aquifer Management Plans are the responsibility of the respective State Governments in accordance with their priorities and available resources. Accordingly, no funds are allocated or released to the State Governments specifically for implementation of the recommendations of NAQUIM 2.0.

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