Works related to enumeration of water bodies, as well as their protection from encroachment or diversion for use for other purposes, come under the purview of the State Government concerned. However, from time to time, this Ministry conducts census of minor irrigation schemes in the country, which captures data regarding water bodies in rural areas associated with irrigation. As per the 5th Minor Irrigation Census conducted by this Ministry with reference year 2013-14, there are 5,16,303 water bodies in the rural areas of the country which are being used for minor irrigation, out of which 53,396 are not in use for various reasons such as non-availability of water, siltation, salinity, etc.
In addition, this Ministry has launched the first census of water bodies in convergence with the sixth round of minor irrigation census (reference year 2017-18) under the centrally sponsored scheme “Irrigation Census”. The objective of the census of water bodies is to develop a national database for all water bodies by collecting information on all important aspects of the subject including their size, condition, status of encroachments, use, storage capacity etc.
Preservation of water bodies, including framing specific policies in this regard, lies in the domain of the State Government. However, some of the policies framed by Government of India in order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments in this regard, are as below:
- National Water Policy 2012 formulated by this Ministry, inter-alia, provides that encroachments and diversion of water bodies (like rivers, lakes, tanks, ponds, etc.) and drainage channels (irrigated area as well as urban area drainage) must not be allowed, and wherever it has taken place, it should be restored to the extent feasible and maintained properly
- Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has notified Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 for protection, conservation and management of wetlands.
- The provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 are being implemented by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) /Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) by consent management to regulate discharge of effluents and enforcement of standards in respect of polluting sources.
- Government of India has stipulated general discharge standards and industry specific effluent discharge standards under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, with an aim to prevent pollution in the water bodies.
- ‘Indicative Guidelines for restoration of water bodies’ have been issued by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as a guidance to the stakeholders for ensuring restoration/ rejuvenation of water bodies.
- Guidelines for immersion of idols in Water Bodies formulated during 2010 has been revised and the “Revised Guidelines on Idol Immersion in Water Bodies “are being implemented in the country with effect from 1st January, 2021.
This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
