1680 wells in country monitor ground water level: Soz

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz today informed the Lok Sabha that his Ministry monitored the ground water level with the help of 1680 wells located in various parts of the country.

He said on that basis, the Centre informed and advised the State Governments on the drawing of ground water.

''The studies conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under its demonstrative scheme of artificial recharge to ground water as also the measurements carried out during the period 2006-08 revealed that recharge to ground water in one year through various types of recharge structures such as percolation tanks, check dams, sub-surface dykes, recharge shafts/wells and roof top rain water harvesting systems was in the range of 196 cubic meters to 34.50 lakh cubic meters with consequent rise in the water table in some areas in the range of 0.25 to 12 meters,'' he said in the Question Hour.

He said the Government had taken several measures to promote rainwater harvesting and ground water in States/union territories.

Some of the measures included preparation and circulation of Master Plan on Artificial recharge of ground water to various States and Union Territories and implementation of demonstrative schemes of artificial recharge of ground water by the Central Ground Water Board during VIII, IX and X plans.

He said the schemes of artificial recharge of ground water through wells were implemented in seven States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The Government had advised the States/Union Territories to undertake promotion of roof top rainwater harvesting in all Government buildings.

The Government had also circulated a model bill to States and Union Territories for enactment of ground water legislation, which in turn had mandatory provision for roof top rainwater harvesting.

The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under section 393 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 advised States to take necessary bye-laws and also promote conservation of ground water in such areas, Prof Soz added.

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