MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2391
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06TH AUGUST, 2024
UNDERGROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION
- SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि एवं किसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:
(a) whether the farmers are facing difficulties in agriculture due to the non-availability of underground water for irrigation in Basna and Saraipali development blocks and Deobhog development block of Gariyaband district of Mahasamund Lok Sabha Constituency;
(b) whether any survey or assessment of the project has been made in the interests of farmers in the said areas;
(c) if so, whether any scheme has been currently formulated on the basis of the said survey; and
(d) if not, the details thereof alongwith the manner in which the said work is likely to be carried out through a scheme or agency?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृषि एवं किसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI rAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (d): Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the Country are being annually assessed jointly by Central Ground Water Board and State Governments. As per the latest (2023) assessment, the Ground Water Resources for Basna and Saraipali development blocks of Mahasamund District and Deobhog development block of Gariyaband district are as under :-
The data reveals that the stage of groundwater extraction in Basna is 86.2%, categorizing it as semi-critical. In Saraipali, the stage of groundwater extraction is 51.1%, and it is categorized as safe. Similarly, Deobhog has a stage of groundwater extraction of 44.6% and is also categorized as safe.
National Aquifer Mapping is a major component of Groundwater Management & Regulation Scheme which is an on-going central scheme. National Aquifer Mapping Studies have been carried out in the blocks of Basna, Saraipali and Deobhog. Based on these studies, groundwater management plans have been prepared and reports have been shared with State and District Authorities for implementation. Water being a State subject, the aspects related to water resources are studied, planned, funded and executed by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. Role of Government of India is limited to being catalytic, providing technical support and, in some cases partial financial assistance in terms of the existing schemes.