To arrest the decline in groundwater levels, Atal Bhujal Yojana or Atal Jal - perhaps India’s largest community led groundwater management program till date - was launched in December 2019. This presentation provides an overview of the scheme, its objectives, key features, disbursement linked indicators and possible interventions.

1. ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA
OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM GUIDELINES

2. Groundwater - Context
02 Useful for enhancing food and agricultural production through irrigation.
03 Intensive and unregulated ground water pumping in many areas has caused
rapid and widespread decline in ground water levels.
04 Several attempts have been made by the Govt. of India for groundwater
management.
01 Fulfills the drinking water requirements of 85% rural and 50% urban India.

3. Atal Bhujal Yojana - Objective
“To improve the management of groundwater resources in
select water stressed areas in the states of Gujarat, Haryana,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and
Uttar Pradesh – through community led sustainable
groundwater management practices.”

4. Key Features
ATAL
BHUJAL
YOJANA
8350 GPs, 78 Districts
in 7 states
Community-led
sustainable ground water
management
Demand and supply
side interventions
Program for Results
(PforR)
Convergence with ongoing
central and state programs
Outlay of Rs. 6,000 Cr.; 50%
contribution by The World
Bank
Identification of water
stressed areas
Implemented over 5 years
(2020-2025)

5. 01
02
02
01
Institutional Strengthening and
Capacity Building Component
• Expenditure on training and capacity building to strengthen
groundwater governance.
Incentive Component
• Incentivizing states for taking measures aimed at ensuring the long-
term sustainability of ground water resources.
Challenge Method Adopted
 selection of most appropriate sites
 encouraging use of technology and innovation
 commitment of stakeholders
 speedy implementation
 transparency and accountability
 promoting competitive federalism
C
O
M
P
O
N
E
N
T
S

6. Components and Funds
INSTITUTIONAL
STRENGTHENING AND
CAPACITY BUILDING
COMPONENT (OUTLAY – INR
1400 CRORE FROM GOI)
INCENTIVE COMPONENT
(OUTLAY - INR 1600 CRORE
FROM GOI AND INR 3000 CRORE
FROM WORLD BANK)

7. Disbursement Linked Indicators
"Improve management of
groundwater resources in the
selected States"
Objective
Institutional framework &
effective groundwater
data monitoring
Result Area 1
Public disclosure
of ground water
information and
reports
DLI 1
Preparation of
Community-led
Water Security
Plans (numbers)
DLI 2
Improvement in the
rate of decline of
groundwater levels
DLI 5
Improved planning and
implementation of
interventions
Result Area 2
Public financing of
approved Water
Security Plans
DLI 3
Adoption of
practices for
efficient water use
(hectare)
DLI 4
DLI # 1 2 3 4 5
% Allocation of funds 10 15 20 40 15

8. Possible interventions underABhY
Construction of major dams, large scale irrigation projects, recharge using industrial wastewater prohibited underABhY.
Demand side
Micro-irrigation
(drip/sprinkler)
Recycling of water
Underground pipelines
Crop diversification
Feeder separation for
irrigation power supply
Pressurized irrigation
Supply side
Percolation ponds
Contour bunds
Farm ponds
Recharge wells
Vented dams
Gully plugs
Drainage line treatment (ridge
to valley approach)
Check dams