(a) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to provide alternative sources of water supply in rural areas where women have to travel long distances to fetch water for their daily needs;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESHCHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a)to (c)Rural Water Supply is a State Subject. As most of rural drinking water supply schemes are based on groundwater sources, under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), 10% of the allocation is earmarked for Sustainability component to be used exclusively to achieve drinking water security by adopting conjunctive use of surface water, rain water, ground water, water from natural springs in hilly areas and other alternative sources and construction of water re-charge structures.
Various water conservations measures are being taken up under the flagship programmes of Centre and State under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Repair, Restoration and Renovation (RRR), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) and Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP). The Ministry’s focus now is to move towards rural water supply schemes based on safe & perennial surface water sources to ensure long term sustainability of source and drinking water security in the event of crisis including drought.
Further, this Ministry has prepared a strategic plan to provide safe drinking water to 90% of the rural population of the country through piped water supply schemes by the year 2022.