Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is periodically monitoring the ground water levels throughout the Country on a regional scale, through a network of monitoring wells.
The Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are also being periodically assessed jointly by CGWB and State Governments. As per the 2017 assessment, out of the total 6881 assessment units (Block/ Taluks/ Mandals/ watersheds/ Firkas) in the country, 1186 units in 17 States/UTs have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’ where the total Current Annual Ground Water Extraction is more than Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource.
Central Ground Water Board is implementing a nationwide programme of “National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM)” for mapping of aquifers (Water bearing formations), their characterization and development of aquifer management plans to facilitate sustainable development of ground water resources. So far about 11 lakhs sq.km have been covered. Aquifer maps and management plans have been shared with the respective State Government agencies. Public Interaction Programs are being organised at grass root level for disseminating the tenets of the Aquifer Management Plans for the benefit of the stakeholders.
The Research & Development Division, Project Planning Wing, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation wing of Central Water Commission (CWC) have awarded studies on impact of climate change on water resources to some of the premier educational institutes. The studies are being implemented under the supervision of Indian National Committee on Climate Change (INCCC).
| S.No. | Name of the Study | Name of the Institute |
| 1 | Impact Assessment of Climate Change on Hydro-meteorological processes and water resources of Mahanadi basin | IISc Bangalore & IIT Bhubaneswar |
| 2 | Climate Change Impact Studies for Rajasthan (Area of Inland Drainage and Mahi Basin) | MNIT Jaipur, IIT Delhi & Central University, Rajasthan |
| 3 | Luni River Basin Climate and Hydrological Modelling | IIT Jodhpur |
| 4 | Impact of Climate Change on water resources of Tapi Basin | SVNIT Surat, MNIT Jaipur & MANIT Bhopal |
| 5 | Impact of Climate Change on water resources of Sabarmati Basin | IIT Gandhinagar and SVNIT Surat |
| 6 | Impact of Climate Change on water resources in River Basins from Tadri to Kanyakumari | IIT Mumbai, NIT Surakthal & CWRDM Kozhikode |
| 7 | Effects of Climate Change and land use/land cover changes on spatial and temporal water availability in Subarnarekha basin | IIT Kharagpur |
CGWB has prepared NAQUIM report for all the states in the country including the State of Uttar Pradesh wherein the information is available for about 17 districts and the report is available at http://cgwb.gov.in/AQM/UP%20Reportdistrict.html.
Also CGWB has brought out “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water in India” (http://cgwb.gov.in/documents/masterplan-2013.pdf) and also “Manual on Artificial Recharge of Ground Water” (http://cgwb.gov.in/documents/Manual-Artificial-Recharge.pdf) wherein various new technologies are discussed.
This information was given by the Minister of State (I/C) for M/o Earth Sciences and M/o Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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