Atal Bhujal Yojana Scheme

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) has been designed with the principal objective of strengthening the institutional framework for participatory groundwater management and bringing about behavioral changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management in seven States, viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with a total outlay of Rs. 6000 crore to be implemented over a period of 5 years (2020-21 to 2024-25).

Benefits

The benefits of ATAL JAL are listed below.

• The implementation of the scheme is expected to benefit nearly 8350 Gram Panchayats in 78 districts in the above mentioned States.

• Atal Bhujal Yojana will promote Panchayat led to groundwater management.

• The scheme will be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.

Components

The components relating to ATAL JAL are listed below;

• Strengthening and capacity building for sustainable groundwater management in the states including improving monitoring networks, capacity building, strengthening of water user associations.

• Incentivizing the State for achievements in improved ground water management practices namely data dissemination preparation of water security plans implementation of management interventions through convergence of ongoing schemes, adopting  demand side management practices.

Fund

Out of the total outlay of Atal Bhujal Yojana, 50 percent funds will be in the form of a World Bank loan and be repaid by the Central Government. The remaining 50 percent will be through Central Assistance from regular budgetary support. The entire World Bank’s loan component and Central Assistance will be passed on to the states as Grants.