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• The Union Ministry of Rural Development has designed “JALDOOT App” to capture the water level of selected wells in a village.
  • It will facilitate Gram Rojgar Sahayak (GRS) to measure the water level of selected wells twice a year (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon).
• The data could be utilized for designing Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) and Mahatma Gandhi NREGA planning exercises.
  • The data can also be used for different kinds of research and other purposes.

Steps taken by the Government for water management

• The government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan with a mission mode approach intended to improve water availability including groundwater conditions in the water-stressed blocks in India.
• National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by the Department of Water Resources for the conservation of rivers, river bodies and infrastructure in a scientifically planned manner through community participation.
• Central Ground Water Authority has been constituted under the “Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for regulation and control of groundwater development and management in the Country.
• Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020 has been prepared in consultation with States/UTs.
• Construction of watershed management structure under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana promotes water conservation and management, water harvesting, soil and moisture conservation, groundwater recharge, flood protection, and land development.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana for sustainable management of groundwater with community participation is being taken up in the identified over-exploited and water-stressed areas in the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Steps need to be taken

• The Water Management program focuses on recharging underground aquifers and promoting rainwater harvesting. This improves the availability and quality of groundwater in the long run and provides water security to all.
• Adopt Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Operation and Maintenance.
• Making Village Water and Sanitation Committee under Gram Panchayat, Involve Community members at all Stages.
• Effective Communication among all stakeholders.
• Ensure Transparency and Accountability in Governance.
• Promote and ensure maintenance services.
• Investments in creating the necessary infrastructure, and developing skills.
• Empowering Women, as they face more adversities due to lack of easy access to water.
• Awareness Campaign on water conservation.

Way forward

• India has one of the largest watershed management programs in the world. This programme will enhance this progress by adopting and applying scientific technologies, decision support tools, and knowledge exchanges.
• Government and administration should work with local communities to revive traditional water bodies, and design and construct cost-effective groundwater recharge structures; such as check dams, ponds, farm ponds, tanks, recharge wells, etc.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1862272

https://t.me/+hJqMV1O0se03Njk9

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