Current Affairs 22 July 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Measures For Revival of Water Bodies UPSC

Source : PIB
Food and Agriculture, Environment

What is discussed under Measures For Revival of Water Bodies UPSC ?

1. 6th minor irrigation census
2. Steps taken by the Central Government
3. Previous Questions

Why in News ?

Information was given by the Union Minister in a written reply in Lok Sabha about various measures taken by government to tackle ground water crisis.

Key Facts

• Ground water levels in various parts of the country are declining because of continuous withdrawal necessitated by increased demand of fresh water for various uses, vagaries of rainfall, increased population, industrialization and urbanization etc.
• Ongoing 6th minor irrigation census is for the first time, collecting details of all water bodies (both in rural and urban areas) irrespective of their use, and this will form the basis of monitoring the health and spread of water bodies.
• Water
  • It is a State subject.
  • Initiatives on water management including conservation & water harvesting and revival/rejuvenation of water bodies in the Country is primarily States’ responsibility.
  • Major initiatives by state government are
    • Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan in Rajasthan
    • Jalyukt Shibar in Maharashtra
    • Sujalam Sufalam Abhiyan in Gujarat
    • Mission Kakatiya in Telangana
    • Neeru Chettu in Andhra Pradesh
    • Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar
    • Jal Hi Jeevan in Haryana

Steps taken by the Central Government

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in 2019
  • Time bound campaign with a mission mode approach intended to improve water availability including ground

    

    water conditions in the water stressed blocks of 256 districts in India.

  • Teams of officers from Central Government along-with technical officers from Ministry of Jal Shakti were deputed to visit water stressed districts.
  • Team work in close collaboration with district level officials to undertake suitable interventions.
  • In addition Jal Shakti Abhiyan  Catch the Rain campaign has been launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 22 March 2021.
• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
  • Implementing National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM), which envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterisation and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of Ground Water Resources.
  • The State-wise information is shared with States/Uts for implementation.
  • Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater- 2020 has been prepared by CGWB.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)
  • Rs.6,000.00 crore Central Sector Scheme.
  • Aims for sustainable management of ground water resources with community participation.
  • Atal Jal is being implemented in 81 water stressed districts and 8774 Gram Panchayats of seven States viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies
  • DoWR, RD & GR is implementing body.
  • Under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with main objectives as comprehensive improvement and restoration of water bodies.
  • Increasing tank storage capacity, improvement of catchment areas of tank command etc.
  • States are to take necessary steps for declaring the water body boundary through a Government order
  • States mandated to ensure removal of encroachments in the water body spread area/water body boundary before submitting a proposal for release of second installment of Central Assistance.
• National Water Policy (2012)
  • Formulated by Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, inter-alia advocates  rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.
  • It also inter-alia, advocates conservation of river, river bodies and infrastructure should be undertaken in a scientifically planned manner through community participation.
  • Further, encroachment and diversion of water bodies and drainage channels must not be allowed and wherever, it has taken place, it should be restored to the extent feasible and maintained properly.
• Model Bill
  • Circulated to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting.
  • So far, 19 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation. 
• Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL) 2016
  • Circulated by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs include provisions for Rainwater Harvesting and it has been shared with all the States / UTs.
  • So far 32 States / UTs have adopted the provisions of rainwater harvesting of MBBL-2016.

Geospatial Technologies in Water Sector

Source : PIB
Environment

What is discussed under Geospatial Technologies in Water Sector ?

1. About the Order
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga released a detailed report on the opportunities in the Water sector that can benefit from the use of Geospatial technologies through an online event. 

Key Facts

• Outlining key water sector programmes and projects in the country the report provides an overview of how each of these programmes is currently using geospatial technologies, and how to improve technology adoption in the future.
• Over 60 water and geospatial technology experts from across the country provided inputs for this report.
• As per the report a plethora of Geospatial and Digital technologies, like Satellite based Remote Sensing, Surveying and Mapping, GPS based equipment and sensors, GIS and Spatial Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Internet of Things, 5G, Robotics and Digital Twin, can be effectively used to combat the water crisis.
• What are the Benefits ?
  • Geospatial technology enables better measurement, management, and maintenance of assets, monitoring of resources and even providing predictive and prescriptive analysis for forecasting and planned interventions.
• Need for Technologies in Water Sector
  • Population density and requirement of water for agriculture, India is heavily dependent on groundwater and is one of the worst hit countries as far as the water crisis is concerned.
  • To support the Government combat this pervasive challenge and to ensure better water management in the country, the Association of Geospatial Industries a geospatial technology industry body, has prepared this report titled, “Potential of Geospatial Technologies for the Water Sector in India”.
  • They are extremely critical for the water sector.
  • It helps not only to collect data about assets and resources, but also enables analysis and interpretation, reporting and monitoring, planning and decision making and to take informed action.
  • Geospatial technologies help in increasing process efficiencies, reducing time for project deployment, ensure better resource management, and offers an integrated platform for assimilating data from varied sources to
    enable informed decision making. 

• Recommendations
  • Long-term Geospatial Vision
  • Integrated geospatial platform:
  • Data and system integration
  • Improving water use efficiency
  • Sharing of best practices
  • Creation of a Geospatial unit within the departments
  • Capacity Development
  • Domain experts within Industry
  • Public Private Partnerships
  • Bi-lateral and Multi-lateral Initiatives
  • Continuous data update

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