National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme

Why is in news? 24.57 LAKH SQ. KM AREA COVERED UNDER NAQUIM PROGRAMME

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)since 2012, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation.

NAQUIM is aimed to delineate aquifer disposition and their characterization for preparation of aquifer/ area specific ground water management plans with community participation.

The rocks in which groundwater is stored are called aquifers. They are typically made up of gravel, sand, sandstone or limestone.

The management plans are shared with the respective State Governments for taking appropriate measures/ implementation.

Out of the total geographical area of around 33 Lakh Sq Km of the entire country, an area of around 25 Lakh Sq Km of mappable area has been identified to be covered under NAQUIM programme. So far, an area of 24.57 Lakh Sq. Km (as on 30 Dec 2022) has been covered under the programme.

Water being a State subject effective use of treated waste water for conserving fresh water resources falls under States’ mandate however, Central Government has initiated a number of steps in this direction.

The important measures in this regard are given as under:

National Water Policy (2012) formulated by this Department advocates for reuse of urban water effluents from kitchens and bathrooms, after primary treatment, in flush toilets ensuring no human contact.

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3(3) of the "Environment (Protection) Act, 1986" for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the country. The latest guideline for control and regulation of groundwater extraction with pan-India applicability was notified by the Ministry on 24 September 2020. Further, it states that installation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) shall be mandatory for new infrastructure projects, where ground water requirement is more than 20 m3/day. The water from STP shall be utilized for toilet flushing, car washing, gardening etc. Further, guidelines stipulate implementation of dual water supply systems in infrastructure projects.

A national framework for the reuse of treated waste water has been published by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). The framework gives guidelines for the formulation of State reuse policy and is intended to build appropriate market and economic models for the reuse of treated waste water.

Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) are required as per Ministry of Power's Tariff Policy-2016 to use treated sewage water from Small Thermal Plants operated by municipalities or, other local authorities within a 50 km radius.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) is supplementing the efforts of State Government to provide safe and clean drinking water in urban areas. The recycle / reuse of used water is one of the focus area under AMRUT in 500 selected cities.

AMRUT 2.0 (FY 2021-22 to 2025-26) aims to make towns / cities ‘water secure’ with focus on recycle/ reuse of treated used water, which is an admissible element of projects