The Master Plan for Artificial Recharge 2020 relies on convergence rather than dedicated funding. Examine the strengths and limitations of this model.

The Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020 was prepared by CGWB with the States and UTs. It proposes about 1.42 crore structures to capture about 185 BCM of monsoon rainfall [1]. No specific fund has been set aside for it. The plan is delivered through convergence with MGNREGS, PMKSY and state schemes [1]. This gives it flexibility, but at the cost of assured funding and clear accountability.

Strengths of the convergence model

• Fiscal realism: the estimated cost of about ₹1.34 lakh crore [2] is spread across existing budgets instead of creating a new scheme silo.
• Federal fit: water is a State subject (Entry 17, List II). The plan is macro-level, and implementing agencies may change the location, size and type of structures to suit local conditions [1].
• Scale through campaigns: JSA: Catch the Rain has covered all blocks of all districts since 2021, using Jan Bhagidari (community participation) [3].
• Jobs plus assets: MGNREGS and PMKSY already pay for recharge structures [4]. Labour and water security move forward together.
• Common siting tools: Punah Bharan (BISAG-N with NWM) gives village-level ARS zonation maps that all converging schemes can use [5].

Limitations

• Weak accountability: CAG Report No. 9 of 2021 found a state authority had no record of whether its recommended recharge sites were ever built [6].
• No money for maintenance: silt quickly reduces infiltration capacity [7], but the schemes pay only for construction. CAG found poor upkeep in Gujarat and Haryana [6].
• Recharge is cut first: in a Kerala water-supply audit, recharge spending was about 2% against a planned 8%, and the scheme became defunct for lack of source water [8].
• Supply-side only: free power and MSP for paddy and sugarcane drive over-extraction [4]. National extraction of about 60% (245.64 of 406.19 BCM, 2024 assessment) hides the over-exploited blocks [9].
• Weak state laws: 19 states have laws based on the 1970 model Bill, which lack implementation guidelines [4].

Convergence gives the Master Plan reach and local flexibility, but it leaves ownership and upkeep unfunded. The way forward is "convergence with accountability":

• geotag every structure, from the Punah Bharan suggestion to construction;
• make desilting a recurring MGNREGS and PMKSY work, as the Standing Committee recommended [4];
• pair recharge with Atal Bhujal's demand-side water budgeting, extended to all water-scarce states [4].

Together these can advance SDG 6.4 and make groundwater use sustainable.