MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)
(a) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have identified 60 high priority districts in
the country including 10 districts in West Bengal, affected by Japanese Encephalitis (JE)
and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) cases. The list of these districts is at Annex-I.
(b) Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments with technical and
financial assistance for provision of safe drinking water supply in the rural areas of the
country under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). 5% of
the NRDWP funds at the National Level are earmarked for Water Quality and allocated to those
States with habitations affected by excess chemical contamination and with high priority
districts affected by Japanese Encephalitis/ Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. Out of these 5%
funds, an amount of Rs. 131.25 crore has been allocated to the 60 high priority JE/AES
affected districts in 5 States of which Rs. 65.62 crore has been released so far. The
activities funded under this provision include replacement of shallow public hand pumps
with India Mark-II hand pumps, raising hand pump platforms in shallow aquifers, providing
energized tubewells with public stand posts with proper disinfection, intensive sanitary
survey & sealing platforms for avoiding leakages, awareness generation and solid and liquid
waste management.
(c) to (f) As reported by the States on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS)
till 4/3/2013, stand-alone water purification systems have been installed in 91,771 schools
against a target of 1,00,000 rural schools under Jalmani programme. In West Bengal, as reported
by the State, such systems have been installed in 4581 schools against the target of 6032 rural
schools i.e. an achievement of 75.94%. The State/UT-wise physical achievement in installation
of stand-alone water purification systems in the country, as reported by States as on 4/3/2013
is at Annex-II. The reasons for delay in achieving targets by some of the States including
West Bengal, include procurement issues, selection of appropriate technology and identification
of schools. These States have been advised to fully achieve their targets by the end of the
current financial year 2012-13.
