Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater Harvesting
LARRDIS
LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI
REFERENCE NOTE
No. 34/LN/Ref/June/2016
1
For the use of Members of Parliament NOT FOR PUBLICATION
BULLET POINTS ON
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
Prepared by Shri Jayadev Sahu, Additional Director (23035025) and Shri Sai Ram C.V. , JLA of Lok
Sabha Secretariat under the supervision of Smt. Kalpana Sharma, Joint Secretary and
Smt. Anita Khanna, Director.
The reference material is for personal use of the Members in the discharge of their Parliamentary duties, and is not
for publication. This Service is not to be quoted as the source of information as it is based on the sources indicated
at the end/in the text. This Service does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or veracity of the information
or views contained in the note/collection.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
On an average, India receives annual rainfall of about 1186.2 millimeter and the
average annual precipitation is about 4000 billion cubic meters (BCM). As per the
assessment done by Central Water Commission, the average annual water
availability in the country is 1869 BCM. It is estimated that owing to topographic,
hydrological and other constraints, the utilizable water is 1123 BCM which
comprises of 690 BCM of surface water and 433BCM of replenishable ground
water resources.1
As per the assessment made by Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central
Ground Water Board (CGWB) in the year 2009 and 2011, of about 450 BCM of
surface water and 245 BCM of groundwater was being utilized out of 1123 BCM
of total utilizable water. The balance water could be considered to be flowing
down to sea.2
Due to rapid rise in population and growing economy of the country, there will be
continuous increase in demand for water, and it will become scarce in the coming
decades.
1
Reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1818, dated 30 July 2015
2
Reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No.1916, dated 14 March 2016
3
Water Resources Information System of India (http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/)
4
Op. cit. Unstarred Question No. 1916
2
5
Rain Water Harvesting and Conservation, Manual, CPWD, 2002, p-9
6
Rainwater Harvesting, Parisara, ENVIS NEWSLETTER, January 2012
7
Ibid, p-2
3
Groundwater Recharge
Natural replenishment of ground water reservoir is slow and is unable to keep pace
with the excessive continued exploitation of ground water resources in various
parts of the country. This has resulted in declining ground water levels and
depleted ground water resources in large areas of the country.
The rainfall occurrence in the country is monsoon dependent and in large part of
the country rain fall is limited to about three months period ranging from around
20 to 30 days. The natural recharge to ground water reservoir is restricted to this
period only. The artificial recharge techniques aim at increasing the recharge
period in the post-monsoon season for about 3 more months providing additional
recharge.
A variety of methods have been developed to recharge ground water. Artificial
recharge techniques can be broadly categorized into:
8
Ibid, p-2
9
Op. cit. Manual, CPWD, p-16
4
Indirect Techniques
• Induced recharge from surface water source.
• Aquifer modification10
Government Initiatives
Several steps for efficient management of rainwater harvesting and artificial
recharge of ground water are being undertaken by the State Governments. The
Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments, by
providing technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and
programmes.
The National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by Ministry of Water
Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation which, inter-alia
advocates rain water harvesting and conservation of water and highlights the
need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.
Ministry of Water Resources has also circulated a Model Bill to all the
States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for its
regulation and development which includes provision of rain water
10
Select Case Studies Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge, CGWB, M/O Water Resources, 2011
5
Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under Section 3(3) of „The
Environment (Protection) Act, (1986)‟ has issued directives/guidelines to:
The Chief Secretaries of all States and the Administrators of all UTs to take
measures to promote/adopt artificial recharge to ground water / rain water
harvesting.
11
Reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 608, dated 23 July 2015
12
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
13
Mplad.nic.in, Circulars, dated 03 September 2014 (http://mplads.nic.in/circularsmenu.htm)
14
Smart City Mission Statement & Guidelines, M/O Urban Development, 2015,p-9
6
To large and medium industries using ground water in the over exploited
and critical areas in the country (except in the water logged areas) to take up
water conservation measures including recharge of ground water/rain water
harvesting and adopt practices of treatment, recycle and reuse of waste water
in their premises.15
Conclusion
Effective water management is very essential for the growth and development of
any country. Unless water problem is adequately addressed with sufficient planning
and care, life on earth itself could be threatened in the years to come. Every drop of
water should be judiciously utilized to increase productivity and its wastage must
be minimized. Effective strategies should be made to harvest water.
15
Reply to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1750, dated 09 May 2016
16
Reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 608, dated 23 July 2015
17
Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water, CGWB, 2013, p-vi
7
ANNEXURE
18
Reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 608, dated 23 July 2015
8
REFERENCES
1. Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources, CGWB, Select Case Studies Rain
Water Harvesting and Artificial Recharge, May 2011.
2. Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources, CGWB, Master Plan for Artificial
Recharge to Ground Water in India, 2013.
3. Government of India, Central Public Works Department, Rainwater Harvesting and
Conservation Manual, 2002.
4. Government of India, Ministry of Urban Development, Smart Cities Mission Statement &
Guidelines, 2015.
5. Answers to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Questions.
6. 'Rainwater Harvesting', Parisara, Envis Newsletter, vol.26, January, 2012.
7. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
8. Official websites of Water Resource Information System of India (http://www.india-
wris.nrsc.gov.in/); and Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, MPLADS
(http://mplads.nic.in/Circular2E03-09-2014.pdf).