(a) the details of the districts affected due to fluoride and arsenic contamination in drinking water in the State of Kerala;
(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide safe drinking water in the State of Kerala; and
(c) whether the Government is providing any special assistance to the State in this regard and if so, the details thereof and the targets fixed therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) District wise number of habitations affected by fluoride and arsenic in Kerala State as reported by the Government of Kerala into Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry as 24th July, 2017 is at Annexure.
(b) & (c) Rural drinking water supply is a state subject. 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 National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). It is the State Governments who plan, design, approve, execute, operate & maintain schemes for providing clean drinking water. Up to 67% of funds provided to the States under NRDWP can be utilized for coverage and tackling water quality problems with priority to arsenic and fluoride affected habitations.
All the States including Kerala have been asked to focus on providing piped water supply schemes from safe and perennial surface water source in water quality affected habitations. As immediate measures, Government of Kerala has been provided an amount of Rs. 19.73 Crores in Mar 2016 as 100% grant by Government of India on the recommendation of NITIAayog to provide 8-10 litres per capita per day of safe drinking water in 95 fluoride affected habitations for drinking and cooking purposes, as short term measures through Community Water Purification Plants.
In addition to this, the Ministry has launched a National Water Quality Sub-Mission on 22nd March 2017 to provide safe drinking water to about 28,000 arsenic / fluoride affected habitations in the country.During February-March 2017, under Sub-Mission programme funds to the tune of Rs2.31 crore has been released to Government of Kerala for completing 04 ongoing piped water supply schemes. During the current financial year 2017-18 under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Rs. 1000 Crore has been earmarked for National Water Quality Sub-Mission on arsenic & fluoride. As on 24th July, 2017 Government of Kerala has not submitted any proposal under National Water Quality Sub-Mission.