(a) whether the Government proposes to privatize the drinking water and sanitation sector or proposes to adopt Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to set up a regulatory authority for supervising drinking water sector in the States, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the manner in which the proposed plan is likely to bridge the gap of demand and supply of drinking water and the extent thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) & (b) No Madam, there is no such proposal of privatizing drinking water supply and sanitation sector. The execution of rural drinking water as well as sanitation works is done by the State Governments. As per the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) guidelines, States are allowed to enter into public private partnership (PPP) with skilled operators, service providers, etc. like service contracts, management contracts, lease contracts (mainly for existing systems) and build, operate and transfer contracts (mainly for new systems) for setting up of drinking water plants / projects. All PPP models should be drawn with transparent, objective, non-discretionary provisions to bring transparency in service deliverables and clearly lay out the roles, responsibilities, performance indicators, customer accountability with incentives and disincentives for the operator.
(c) No Madam. There is no such proposal of setting up regulatory authority for supervising drinking water in the States as rural water supply is a State subject.
(d) Does not arise.