The Centre has formulated an ambitious water conservation scheme named Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) to tackle depletion groundwater level.
The scheme is piloted under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and is awaiting Cabinet’s clearance.
The objective of this scheme is to recharge ground water and create sufficient water storage for agricultural purposes.
This scheme also focuses on revival of surface water bodies so that ground water level can be increased, especially in the rural areas.
The duration of the ABY will be five years.
The scheme, after Cabinet’s clearance, will soon be launched in water-stressed states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The Centre does not have any control over groundwater. The only law that deals with groundwater – the Indian Easements Act – dates back to 1882.