Artificial Recharge Scheme

SCHEME ON ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE OF GROUND WATER THROUGH
DUGWELLS

                        http://www.cgwb.gov.in/Scheme%20on%20Artificial_recharge.html

Introduction & Background

Ground water plays a vital role in food production, drinking water supply,
drought mitigation, economic development etc. beside environment sustenance in
the country. Presently more than 85% of rural water supply, 50% of urban water
needs and 50% of water requirement for irrigation in the country is met from
ground water sources. As per the latest ground water resource assessment
carried out by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), out of 5723 assessment
areas(Block/Talukas /Mandals ) in the country, the situation in 1615 areas is a
matter of  serious concern. In all, 839 areas are over-exploited, 226
areas are critical and 550 areas are semi-critical. The worst affected areas
are located in States underlain by hard rock aquifers, where ground water
regime is affected adversely due to over exploitation.

 Artificial
recharge of ground water is one of the most efficient ground water management
tools for ensuring sustainability of ground water resources. The efficacy of
artificial recharge structures constructed by CGWB and State Govt. &
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in different hydrogeological and
agro-climatic regime of the country has been duly established and evaluations
of the works have reflected   importance of conservation and ground
water recharge in controlling decline in ground water levels, resource
augmentation and increased sustainability of wells in different parts of the
country.

Justification/
Need of the Scheme

 Many
areas of the country underlain by hard rock aquifers having limited storage
potentials are facing acute problems of over exploitation and depletion of
ground water resources. About 80% of these ground water stressed areas (Over
exploited, Critical & Semi-critical) are located in the hard rock areas in
the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu where rapid decline of ground water levels have been
observed on long term basis. 
Keeping in view the concerns regarding the problems of over exploitation of
ground water resources in the country as well as to ensure sustainable water
resources management and assured irrigation facilities in the affected areas, a
scheme has been announced by the Union Finance Minister in the Budget Speech on
28.2.2007 and is being implemented in above said seven states. The map showing
state covered under the scheme is enclosed as Plate -I
Salient features of the scheme:

The
salient features of the scheme:

•  The scheme is being 
  implemented by the respective State Governments in 1180 identified Over-
  exploited, Critical and Semi-critical blocks falling in the States of

• 
  
  

•  Andhra Pradesh,
  Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
•  The identified
  beneficiaries are farmers having irrigation dug well in their agricultural
  land.
•  Total of 4.455 million
  existing irrigation dug wells of the beneficiary farmers are proposed for
  recharging ground water. The average unit cost for dugwell recharge would
  be Rs. 4000/-.
•  The scheme provides 
  100% subsidy to ‘Marginal (0-1 ha land holding) and Small farmers’ (1-2 ha
  land holding) and 50% subsidy to ‘Other farmers’ (> 2 ha land holding).
•  The subsidy amount is
  being disbursed by NABARD through the lead bank of the district concerned
  to the identified beneficiaries.
•  Concurrent and post project
  impact assessment study shall be carried out through reputed agencies
  /organizations.

Objective
and Scope: 

The
objective and scope of the scheme are stated below:

•  Recharge of existing
  dugwells through rainfall runoff from the agricultural fields will
  facilitate improvement in ground water situation in the affected areas.
•  The dug well based ground
  water recharge programme will increase the sustainability of wells during
  lean period and will improve the overall irrigated agricultural
  productivity, socio economic conditions and quality of life of the local
  population in the affected areas.
•  The recharge programme
  will also help in improving the quality of ground water especially in the
  fluoride affected areas of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu
  etc.
•  The scheme would
  facilitate strengthening of the institutional arrangements towards
  creation of awareness and capacity building of farmers and overall
  community involvement in water resource management in the affected area.
•  Replication of similar
  recharge programmes in other ground water stressed areas in the country.

 

Implementation
of the scheme:

The approval of the scheme “Artificial Recharge to Ground Water through dug
wells” was conveyed to the Chief Secretary of the Participating states during
January 2008. The scheme was taken up during XI Plan and implemented by the
State Governments, in coordination with regional offices of Central Ground
Water Board and NABARD. The coverage targets under the scheme in seven states
were given below:

Cost
of the Scheme:

The total cost of the scheme for implementing civil works towards installation
of Artificial Recharge Structures in respect of 4.455 million dugwells in 1180
blocks was Rs 1871.10 cr. Out of the total cost, the subsidy component was
of Rs. 1499.27 cr. for beneficiaries.

Net
cost for implementation of the Scheme including subsidy to farmers, service
charges, cost of awareness and capacity building, impact assessment and
maintenance cost was Rs 1798.71 cr. in the scheme.

Time
Schedule for completion of the Scheme:

The scheme was implemented during XI Plan period. The total duration of the
scheme was three years commencing from 2007-08. The important activities
involved in the implementation of the scheme include firming up of
institutional framework, identification of feasible areas of recharge and the
beneficiaries, approval of schemes vis a vis release of funds, awareness
activities, civil works, impact assessment etc.

Modalities
of implementation

The
scheme was implemented by the respective state nodal department in 1180 Over
exploited, Critical and Semi-critical areas falling in states namely, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and
Gujarat. The details of areas proposed to be covered under the scheme are
enclosed and also available at the Website of Central Ground Water Board.
The State Governments constituted State Level Steering committees (SLSC) and
District Level Implementation and Monitoring Committees (DLIMCs) to ensure
effective implementation of the scheme.
A nodal department was identified by the each State Government and charged with
overall responsibility for planning, execution and monitoring of the scheme.
The technical support for the scheme was provided by regional offices of CGWB
and State Task Force (SGWB). Under the scheme, dug well recharge structures
envisaged to be installed in the 4.455 million existing irrigation dug wells of
farmer beneficiaries.
The earmarked funds were held in an escrow account by NABARD and disbursed
through a mechanism of directly crediting the subsidy to the beneficiaries
savings bank account through different Commercial banks/ RRBs / Cooperative
banks, etc., where the beneficiaries are having their SB Accounts. The detailed
guidelines/formats, etc., to the banks in respect of release of subsidy to the
beneficiaries were issued by NABARD separately.

Awareness and Capacity building activities:  The scheme envisaged a
collaborative partnership among Central Government, State Governments, PRIs,
financial institutions and local communities. Besides capacity building of
beneficiaries, all the key functionaries of the agencies involved in the scheme
were to be trained to enable them to discharge their responsibilities in an
effective manner. The training module for this purpose was to be worked out by
the DLMIC and to be included in the district-wise project report. The state
governments were to widely publicize the scheme and its objectives in local
vernacular languages though print and electronic media.

Impact Assessment:

Pre and post project impact assessment studies were envisaged to be carried out
through reputed agencies/organizations. The efficacy of the scheme was proposed
to be evaluated through impact assessment study to be undertaken by agency
empanelled for the scheme by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Completion
of the project

On
completion of the project, the implementing agency is to provide completion
report along with necessary utilization certificates to Nodal Department of
respective State Governments. The physical progress report along with the
completion report and utilization certificate should be sent by the Nodal
Department directly to MOWR with a copy to NABARD. The utilization of funds
released for awareness activities etc. will also be reported by Nodal Department
to Ministry of Water Resource. A provision of annual maintenance fund for
initial two years has been made in the scheme i.e. an amount of 2.5% (per year)
of the total cost of the scheme for two years (amounting to 5%), which is to be
released at the end of the second year. Thereafter, the beneficiaries would
responsible for operation and maintenance of their recharge structures from
their own resources.

Undertakings

Subsidy under the scheme was envisaged to be credited to be beneficiary’s
account after he has furnished an undertaking, which in turn may be suitable
modified as may be necessary, by the District Level Implementing Agency State
Government. The decision, as to whether this undertaking ought to be stamped or
not, may also be taken by the concerned State Governments.

Institutional Framework

In order to ensure smooth implementation of the scheme, each of the identified
states will constitute a State Level Steering Committee (SLSC), District Level
Implementation and Monitoring Committees (DLIMC) and designate a Nodal
Department for the purpose.
State Governments have constituted a State Level Steering Committee (SLSC)
under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary and Secretary, Water Resources
(Ground Water / Watershed Development) as its Member – Secretary.

The set function of SLSC:

•  To lay on guidelines for
  planning implementation, monitoring, and appraisal of the scheme based on
  the guidelines issued by Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India.
•  To approve scheme
  prepared by Nodal Department 
•  To monitor physical and
  financial progress of the implementation of the scheme.
•  To ensure effective
  coordination amongst various DLIMCs, and other stakeholders.
•  To assess and evaluate
  the overall impact of the scheme and submit recommendations to the State
  Government.

SLSC
shall meet as often as required but shall meet at least once in a quarter. The
quorum for the meeting would not be complete without the presence of Regional
Director, CGWB and CGM, NABARD or their nominees.

Similarly,
State Government have constituted district level implementation and monitoring
committee (DLIMC) under the Chairmanship of District Collector. DLIMC would
report to SLSC on all matters for implementation and monitoring of the scheme
in their respective districts.

The role of DLIMC

•  Planning, implementation
  of the scheme at district level in accordance with the guidelines of SLSC.
•  To compile and forward
  the details of eligible / assisted beneficiaries to NABARD / State Govt.
•  To monitor the physical
  and financial progress of the project as per approved design and work
  schedule.
•  To approve the proposals
  for release of funds submitted by the implementing agency.
•  To approve the completion
  and utilization certificates submitted by implementing agencies.
•  To implement awareness
  and capacity building programmes.
•  To ensure effective
  coordination amongst all stakeholders.

The
functions of State Nodal Department as in scheme are indicated below.

•  To oversee the
  implementation of the scheme and coordinate with Central Ground Water
  Board, WALMIS and NABARD, SLSC and DLIMC.
•  To identify the
  implementing agencies and beneficiaries for implementation of the scheme
  as per approved Central/State Government norms.
•  To firm up the design of
  site specific recharge structures in consultation with Central Ground
  Water Board.
•  To prepare action plans
  for awareness activities and capacity building programmes under the
  guidance of SLSC.
•  To periodically monitor
  physical and financial progress on monthly basis, assess the utilization
  of funds and recommend the release of balance funds, take up all remedial
  measures in case of non-utilization of funds.
•  To examine the project
  submitted by beneficiaries in accordance with guidelines issued
•  To arrange independent
  certification of the design and quality of construction of artificial
  recharge structure(s).

The
Nodal Department will prepare the District-wise ‘Schemes containing feasibility
studies, designs of Artificial Recharge  Structures, details of identified
beneficiaries, implementing agencies, NGOs, modalities of implementation and
monitoring etc. for consideration and approval of SLSC/ State Government .
While preparing these schemes, the Nodal Department will give district-wise,
category-wise the total no. of beneficiaries to ascertain the total amount of
subsidy that may be necessary for each district. In course of approving the
scheme(s), the SLSC will also identify the nodal officer for each district to
issue authorization to NABARD directly for fund release, giving interalia, the
details of beneficiaries i.e. name of beneficiary, number of dugwells, category
and account details.

Role
of NABARD :-

• to disburse and credit the fund
  in beneficiary bank accounts for construction of recharge structures
  through Commercial banks/ RRBs / Cooperative banks/ Mini-Cooperative
  banks/Post offices, etc.,
• to provide detailed guidelines
  / formats to the bank for release of subsidy to beneficiary
• to release fund to
  identified  agencies for capacity building/monitoring/ impact
  assessment
• to release O&M charges to
  beneficiaries for maintenance  of recharge structures

Role
of Ministry of Water Resources 
The Ministry of Water Resources is nodal Ministry for the scheme. The Ministry
will be responsible for following:-

•  To identify agencies for comprehensive
  impact assessment of scheme,

• To advise NABARD to release
  funds for impact evaluation study to identified agency and
• To monitor the scheme and to
  take measure for experience sharing amongst all stakeholders.

Ministry
of Water Resources would benchmark the impact assessment study which would be
carried out during pre and post project periods. The concurrent impact
assessment will also be done through independent agencies/organizations
identified by Ministry of Water Resources. Such assessment will also include
the aspects of water quality and recharge quantity in the vicinity of wells of
the beneficiaries.

The
CGWB would render technical assistance to the Nodal Department in planning,
execution and performance evaluation of the scheme.

Funding

Under
the scheme, Government of India through Ministry of Finance released funds in
advance to the ‘Escrow Account’ based on the indent received from NABARD
as per assessed requirement from the State Governments. NABARD in turn released
the

•  eligible subsidy amount
  and OM charges to the beneficiaries for installation and maintenance of
  recharge structures,
•  institutional charges to
  implementing agencies towards administrative charges for organizing
  capacity building and awareness programmes and
•  institutional charges to
  identified agencies for carrying out impact assessment studies.

Present
Status of the scheme:

As
on 31-07-2013, Rs. 277.515 Cr has been utilized. The break-up of the funds
utilized is as below:

1.    
 Net subsidy released by NABARD:                        
Rs. 257.638 Cr.

2.    
 Funds released to States for
IEC
activities:                       
Rs. 17.0 Cr.

3.    
 Funds released to Ministry for
IEC activities:        Rs. 0.242 Cr.

4.    
 Funds released to NABARD as
operating cost:     Rs. 2.6358 Cr.

The
overall detail of the funds under the scheme is as below:

1.    
 Total Fund received from DFS,
MoF,
GoI:             
Rs. 1536.750 Cr.

2.    
 Net subsidy released by NABARD
including          Rs. 277.515 Cr.

amount
released for IEC
activities:                        

1.    
 Unutilized subsidy refunded to
DFS, MoF, GoI      Rs. 1233.905 Cr.

on
23 August
2011:                                                 

1.    
 Balance amount available with
NABARD:             
Rs. 25.330 Cr.

State-wise
details of funds released in the scheme are indicated below;