Question : Contamination of Drinking Water in West Bengal and Assam

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the quality of drinking water in many districts of West Bengal and North-Eastern region particularly Assam has become very poor due to large quantity of Iron and Arsenic in water and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is also a fact that due to such contamination lots of people in these areas are suffering from life threatening diseases; and
(c) if so, whether the Government has conducted any survey to mitigate this problem and to provide clean contamination free drinking water supply to the people and if so, the details thereof, district-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c) As reported by States/ UTs, State-wise details of habitations having contaminants, including Arsenic and Iron, in drinking water sources are annexed.
To make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country by 2024, since August, 2019, Government of India in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) –Har Ghar Jal. Under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), an organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed that a study was conducted in 2008 by the All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata Dte. GHS, MOHFW in collaboration with the School of Tropical Medicine which highlighted the problems of high concentration of Arsenic in ground water in districts of South 24 Parganas and Malda in West Bengal. Technical guidelines for “Detection, Prevention and Management of Aresenicosis in India” have been shared with the States affected by Arsenicosis. IEC materials for awareness of diseases symptoms and prevention of Arsenicosis, have also been shared with the affected States.


Under JJM, while planning for potable water supply to household through tap water connection, priority is to be given to quality-affected habitations. Since, planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply scheme based on a safe water source may take time, purely as an interim measure, States/ UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8–10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet their drinking and cooking requirements.
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