Crisis in availability of potable water

RAJYA SABHA

Government is aware that due to delay in setting of South-West monsoon and deficient rainfall, many states including Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have been affected with varying degrees of drinking water scarcity.

Water is a state subject. Rural water supply has been placed in the XIth Schedule of the Constitution to be devolved to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Government of India assists the states in their endeavor to provide potable water to rural habitations under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal ministry to monitor drought situation in various states and provide necessary assistance through Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) and National Calamity Relief Fund (NCRF) which can be used for mitigation of drinking water scarcity also. In addition, assistance is also provided under NRDWP based on the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) to mitigate drinking water problems in the wake of natural calamities which inter alia includes drought.

Government is monitoring any possible water scarcity and is continuously in touch with the States. A number of suggestions to tackle drinking water scarcity have been sent to the States. States have also been sensitized to plan for tackling drinking water scarcity till the next monsoon. For implementation of rural water supply programmes the first installment of funds under NRDWP has been released to all the states.

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development Ms. Agatha Sangma informed the Rajya Sabha today.

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AKT/ST/SAK