New Delhi, April 1 The Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday raised concerns about the slow progress in groundwater modeling and inadequate community participation in water management, and called for urgent and time-bound action by the Jal Shakti Ministry.
These observations were made in the committee's 41st report on "Ground Water Management and Regulation," presented in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by its chairperson K C Venugopal and also laid in the Rajya Sabha on the same day.
The document, an action taken report on the committee's earlier recommendations, stated that groundwater modeling is a crucial tool to estimate availability for various water use strategies and assess the cumulative effects of increased usage and drought conditions.
A groundwater model is a numerical representation of the aquifer system capable of simulating historical and predicting future aquifer conditions.
The report noted that the ministry's progress in groundwater modeling is "significantly slow" and urged that immediate action be taken to prioritize and expedite the project within a specific timeframe.
Regarding the recommendation on non-preparation of groundwater models, the committee noted that while aquifer mapping has covered a significant area, groundwater modeling has been completed for about 4.75 lakh square kilometers, with a target of an additional 1 lakh square kilometers by 2026, covering parts of the Cauvery, Tapi, and Ramganga basins.
However, the report stated that the outcome of the study and its overall impact have not been specified, and sought to be informed of the final outcome.
It reiterated the need to prioritize and expedite this crucial project within a specific timeframe.
"The action taken notes further state that to promote groundwater modeling-based decision making, the Central Ground Water Authority has made groundwater modeling mandatory in impact assessment reports for specific cases. The committee desires to be apprised of the final outcome in this regard," the report stated.
On community participation, the report stated that there has been a lack of action in promoting local involvement in groundwater management and noted that schemes such as the Atal Bhujal Yojana remain limited in scope.
The committee desired that the scope of the scheme be expanded to cover the entire country and that updates on outcomes achieved be provided.
Taking note of the ministry's submission, the report stated that "in-principle" approval has been accorded for expansion of the scheme with an outlay of Rs 8,200 crore, subject to restructuring it as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
"The committee, therefore, desires that the latest status of Atal Bhujal Yojana to cover the entire country and updates on its outcomes achieved, be intimated to it," the report stated.
In its reply, the ministry said the proposal for expansion to additional water-stressed states is under consideration, and approval has been granted for expansion in five states, while efforts such as community-driven campaigns and institutional mechanisms are being undertaken to promote participatory groundwater management.
It further stated that local administration should be instructed to monitor water levels in reservoirs, ponds, wells and baolis through technologies such as geo-tagging and remote sensing, and sought details of steps taken, including bringing local political leadership on board.
Emphasising participatory management, the report stated that communities and stakeholders should be enabled to monitor and manage groundwater as a common pool resource through coordinated efforts involving government departments, Panchayati Raj institutions and civil society.
The committee has asked the Jal Shakti Ministry to furnish further action taken notes on these observations within three months of presentation of the report.