(a) the details of States in the country which have been affected by contamination of drinking water through fluoride and arsenic contents;
(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide safe drinking water to these States including Jharkhand and Bihar;
(c) whether the Government is providing any special assistance to these States in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the targets fixed for these, States/UTs?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI S.S.AHLUWALIA)
(a) :State-wise number of fluoride and arsenic affected habitations as reported by the states into Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry as on 02nd April, 2018 is at Annexure.
(b) to (d): Rural drinking water supply is a State subject. However, for improving the coverage of safe drinking water to rural population, this Ministry supplements the efforts of the States by providing them with technical and financial assistance through the centrally sponsored scheme National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). It is the State Government who plan, design, approve, execute and operate & maintain the schemes for providing safe drinking water to rural population. The funds provided to the States under NRDWP can be utilized for coverage and tackling water quality problems with priority to fluoride and arsenic affected habitations.
To deal with arsenic and fluoride contamination, with the recommendation of NITI Aayog, Government of India had released Rs.1,000 crore toaffected states including Jharkhand and Biharin March 2016for commissioning of Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs) and surface water based piped water supply schemes. Out of which, Rs. 1.50 Crore and Rs. 22.83 Crore had been released to Government of Jharkhandand Government of Bihar respectively for commissioning of Community Water Purification Plants.
In addition to this, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation had launched the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) on 22nd March, 2017, under NRDWP to provide safe drinking water to about 28,000 arsenic / fluoride affected habitations, in a span of 4 years, subject to availability of funds. As on 02nd April, 2018, Rs. 2,825.67 Crore had been released to arsenic / fluoride affected states under NWQSM.
During 2016-17, under NWQSM, Rs. 1.07 Crore and Rs. 20.97 Crorehad been released as Central share to Government of Jharkhand and Government of Bihar respectively for ongoing piped water supply schemes.
During 2017-18, under NWQSM, Rs.37.65 Crore and Rs. 80.37 Crore had been released to Government of Jharkhandand Government of Bihar respectively for new schemes in arsenic and fluoride affected habitations.