The geodetic and research branch of Survey of India is also conducting a survey of 5,000 glaciers in the Himalayas which contribute nearly 50 per cent to 70 per cent of annual discharge of the northern rivers. They have expressed concern over the fact that global warming has seriously affected the dynamics of most of these glaciers which are retreating.

The department of space has already established drought management information services, linkages with other departments and agencies and information exchange modules for using space technology for the purpose.

To make the proposed national programme for water conservation a success, the ministry has decided to construct 10,000 roof-top harvesting structures, implement city storm water harvesting and urban waste water recharge in 100 cities, rehabilitate 1,000 village ponds and percolation tanks, construct 500 check dams and allied structures in a period of three years. These activities will be demonstration projects with a view to generate mass awareness.

The proposed national policy will ensure provision of at least one roof-top rain-water harvesting structure for every plot with an area of 500 square metres in the country, revive and rehabilitate all village ponds, provide at least one check dam or KT bhandara or sub-surface dyke in each streamlet with a catchment of one sq km to 3 sq km, provide all drinking water wells with a recharge structure and ban construction of irrigation wells or tubewells within a distance of 200 metre or less, depending upon criteria of ensuring safe drinking water.

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is currently implementing a scheme of water recharge at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore in Gujarat and Rajasthan.The CGWB will prepare national and state level perspective plans for artificial recharge of water within two months. Every house in the drought affected regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan will be provided with a roof-top rain-water harvesting structure.