Question : Pollution of Water Resources

(a) whether the Government is aware that pollution of the water resources is one of the major reasons for scarcity of safe drinking water and if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(b) whether the Government proposes to bring a legislation for the same and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government proposes to initiate projects for conservation of drinking water sources and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the hike in expenditure for the treatment of polluted water for supplying it for drinking water purpose and if so, the details of the study report; and

(e) the initiatives taken by the Government for conservation of water resources for drinking water supply?

MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)


(a) to (c) : Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has informed this Ministry that, the water quality data generated by CGWB during various scientific studies and ground water quality monitoring indicates that in isolated pockets in parts of various states have higher concentration of salinity, iron, fluoride, arsenic and heavy metals beyond permissible limits.
As reported by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, following initiatives have been taken for ground water conservation and mitigation of ground water contamination:-
i. The National Water Policy (2012) advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures.
ii. A Model Bill has been circulated to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which includes provision of rain water harvesting.

iii. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has prepared a conceptual document titled “Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Ground Water – 2013” which provides information about area-specific artificial recharge techniques to augment ground water resources based on the availability of source water and capability of subsurface formations to accommodate it. The Master Plan envisages construction of about 1.11 Crore artificial recharge/Rainwater harvesting structures in urban and rural areas.
iv. Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the “Environment (Protection) Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the Country.
v. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) regularly undertakes training programs and IEC activities for capacity building and awareness creation of stakeholders on the importance of water conservation, rainwater harvesting in augmenting the ground water resources and ground water quality issues.
vi. CGWB has taken up Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) programme from the XII Plan, under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation.
vii. ModelBuildingByeLaws,2016circulatedbyMinistryofUrbanDevelopment include provisionsfor Rainwater Harvesting.
viii. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) constructs wells for scientific exploration of ground water. Successful contamination free wells are handed over to the State Governments for utilization.
ix. Ground water Quality data generated by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in various studies are shared with concerned State Governments for awareness and necessary preventive action.
(d): Rural Drinking Water Supply is a State Subject. State Governments are empowered to plan, design, approve, execute, operate & maintain the schemes for providing safe drinking water to rural population including water quality affected areas.
(e): States are empowered to take necessary steps for improving sustainability of drinking water sources through various measures including convergence of schemes like MGNREGA, etc. and earmarking specific locations including water bodies as a water resource under their State Acts.

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