Atal Bhujal Yojana: Boosting Sustainable Groundwater Management

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) is a flagship program launched by the Government of India in December 2019. The scheme is aimed at sustainable management of groundwater resources in the country, which is a critical component of the water security of India. The scheme is designed to address the issue of declining groundwater levels, primarily due to over-extraction and inefficient use of groundwater.

Here are some key points about the Atal Bhujal Yojana:

1. Objectives of the scheme: The primary objective of the scheme is to improve groundwater management in priority areas through community participation. The scheme aims to enhance the recharge of groundwater, promote water use efficiency, and reduce the use of groundwater for irrigation.
2. Funding: The scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme, with a total budget of Rs 6,000 crore for a period of five years (2019-20 to 2023-24). The funding will be shared between the central government (50%) and the participating states (50%).
3. Priority areas: The scheme covers seven states – Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, which are facing severe groundwater depletion. The scheme focuses on areas where the groundwater resources are over-exploited, critical, or semi-critical.
4. Key components of the scheme: The scheme has three major components – (i) Institutional strengthening and capacity building, (ii) Incentivizing the states for achievements in groundwater management, and (iii) Community-led groundwater management.
5. Community participation: The scheme emphasizes community participation in groundwater management. The community-led groundwater management component aims to create community-led groundwater management structures, such as Water User Associations (WUAs), which will help in the sustainable management of groundwater resources.
6. Impact: The scheme is expected to benefit about 8350 Gram Panchayats in 78 districts across the seven participating states. The scheme is expected to lead to an improvement in the groundwater level by 2 to 4 meters in the priority areas. The scheme will also lead to an increase in the irrigated area, improve crop productivity, and enhance the livelihoods of the rural population.

In conclusion, the Atal Bhujal Yojana is a much-needed step towards sustainable groundwater management in India. The scheme’s focus on community participation and incentivizing states for achievements in groundwater management is commendable. The success of the scheme will depend on effective implementation, community participation, and the sustained efforts of the stakeholders involved. The scheme has the potential to make a significant contribution to the water security of the country and improve the lives of the rural population.