Question : Fluoride affected Habitations

(a) whether it is true that as per the Integrated Management Information System 137 rural habitations have been identified as fluoride affected in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana;
(b) if so, the details of such habitations;
(c) whether any new habitations have been added between 2013 to 2019;
(d) if so, the details and the reasons therefor;
(e) the efforts made by the Union Government to make them fluoride-free habitations; and
(f) the details of technical and financial assistance provided to the State Governments to deal with the above problem?

MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a) & (b) The number of fluoride affected habitations in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, as reported the State in IMIS of the Department is as below:-
As on Number of fluoride affected habitations
01.04.2014 131
01.04.2015 118
01.04.2016 120
01.04.2017 25
01.04.2018 0
01.04.2019 0
04.02.2020 0
(c) & (d) As reported by State, 17 & 10 number of fluoride affected habitations have been added during 2016 & 2017 respectively.
(e) & (f) Rural drinking water supply is a State subject and Government of India assists States by providing financial and technical assistance to provide potable water to rural population through the centrally sponsored scheme Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Powers to plan, approve, and implement rural drinking water supply schemes are vested with States. While allocating the funds under JJM to States/UTs, 10% weightage has been given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants (including fluoride affected habitations). The funds provided to the States under JJM can be utilized for taking up schemes in water quality affected areas on priority.

In March 2016, with the recommendation of NITI Aayog, an amount of ? 1,000 Crores was released to various Arsenic & Fluoride affected States for installation of Community water purification plants and commissioning of piped water supply schemes. Out of which, Rs. 94.58 Crore has been released to Telangana State.

Further, in March 2017, National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) was launched as a part of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), which has now been subsumed under Jal Jeevan Mission, to provide safe drinking water to 27,544 Arsenic/ Fluoride affected rural habitations in the country. As reported by State, all identified 1041 fluoride affected habitations including 120 habitations from Ranga Reddy district have been provided safe drinking water and Rs. 700.23 Crore has been released to Telangana State under NWQSM.


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