The World Bank has undertaken a study and Technical Assistance initiative on Ground Water Management in India with the objectives of identifying management strategies for promoting sustainable groundwater use in the heavily groundwater dependent States of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. An assessment was also carried out in Punjab. Based on the outcome of the study, the World Bank has brought out the report on Deep Wells and Prudence: Towards Pragmatic Action for Addressing Groundwater Over-exploitation in India. The report has suggested a combination of demand side measures, conjunctive use and groundwater recharge enhancement to manage over-exploitation of groundwater in the country and have indicated a set of pragmatic measures that can be effectively implemented at ground level.
The outcome of the World Bank aided Maharashtra Water Sector Improvement Project, so far, mainly relates to completion of 176 schemes for canal rehabilitation, 237 schemes for dam safety works, formation of 1674 Water User Organizations (WUOs) and handling over of Distribution System to 947 Water User Associations for further irrigation management. The main achievements of this project relate to increase in water use efficiency by 37.5 % and net increase in agriculture income by 29.53 %.
The outcome of the World Bank aided Uttar Pradesh Water Sector Restructuring Project- Phase-I, completed in October, 2011, relates to rehabilitation and modernization of Haidergarh Branch (Km. 0.0 to Km.22.98) and Jaunpur Branch System, creation of Apex Water Sector Institutions, enactment of UP Participatory Irrigation Management Act 2009 and Participatory Irrigation Management Rules 2010, enactment of UP Water Management and Regulatory Commission Act 2008, development of Decision Support System for Jaunpur Branch sub-basin, preparation of Management Information System, Agricultural Intensification and Diversification of project area, etc.
The major outcome of the World Bank aided Madhya Pradesh Water Sector Restructuring Project has been the reclamation of lost irrigation potential of old schemes. The Rabi irrigation delivered in 2009-10, 2010-11,2011-12 and 2012-13 stood at 1.50 lakh hectares, 1.77 lakh hectares,4.45 lakh hectares and 5.10 lakh hectares respectively.
The World Bank assisted Rajasthan Water Sector Restructuring became effective from March, 2002 and has been closed on 31st March, 2013 with additional financing. The main outcome of the project are as under:-
(i) Increase in yield for mustard and wheat from 1 ton/hectare to 1.68 ton/hectare and 2 ton/hectare to 3.89 ton/hectare respectively.
(ii) Restored area under irrigation 105622 hectare.
(iii) Increased farm household income up to Rs.1.20 lakh per annum.
The World Bank has agreed to lend US $ 360 million for UP Water Sector Restructuring Project – Phase-II over a period of 7 years. The Phase-II of the project would cover the following districts of Uttar Pradesh:
(i) Lower Ganga Command Area Etah, Firojabad, Kasganj, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Kannauj, Aurraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Fatehpur and Kausambhi.
(ii) Sharda Sahayak Region Barabanki, Amethi, Raibareli and
(iii) Bundelkhand Region Lalitpur
There is no proposal to implement a national project for repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies with the funds to be provided by the World Bank. However, the Ministry of Water Resources had launched a state sector scheme for Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies with external assistance with an outlay of Rs. 1500 Crore for implementation during XI Plan period.
Under the scheme of Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies with external assistance, it was proposed to cover about 23000 water bodies having a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of 16.8 lakh hectare at a costof Rs. 6,000 crore including central share of Rs. 1500 crore during XI Five Year Plan. The World Bank Loan Agreement has been signed with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa for covering 10887 water bodies as detailed below:
| Sl No. | State | Project Cost
(Rs. Crore) |
No. of Water Bodies | Loan Component
(Rs. Crore) |
CCA (lakh hectare) | Central Share i.e. 25% of loan component
(Rs. Crore) |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 1044.30 | 3000 | 835.00 | 2.5 | 208.85 |
| 2 | Tamil Nadu | 2547.00 | 5763 | 2182.00 | 4.0 | 337.50 |
| 3 | Karnataka | 306.98 | 1224 | 268.78 | 0.52 | 67.20 |
| 4 | Orissa | 546.00 | 900 | 448.00 | 1.2 | 119.50 |
| Total | 4444.28 | 10887 | 3733.78 | 8.22 | 733.05 |
