Question : Arsenic Contaminated Drinking Water in Balia

(a) whether the level of arsenic in the drinking water in Balia district of Uttar Pradesh has reached a hazardous level;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of people suffering from serious diseases so far in Balia district due to the use of arsenic contaminated drinking water;
(d) whether the Government is contemplating to formulate a project to provide clean drinking water to the people of Balia district and Ganga water to them through pipeline and tanks with the cooperation of the State Government;
(e) if so, the time by when the said project is likely to be completed; and
(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATEFOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
(SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a) & (b) : Details of arsenic affected habitations (more than permissible limit) in Balia district of Uttar Pradesh as reported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh into the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry as on 05th February, 2018 is at Annexure.
(c) : Disease monitoring due to consumption of excess arsenic in drinking water is the mandate of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
(d) to (f) : 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 Government who plan, design, approve, execute and operate & maintain the schemes for providing safe drinking water to rural population. The 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.
To deal with arsenic and fluoride contamination, with the recommendation of NITI Aayog, Government of India had released Rs 1,000 crore in March’ 2016 for community water purification plants and for the last mile connectivity of surface water based piped water supply schemes in West Bengal and Rajasthan. Out of which, Rs. 13.39Crore has been released to Government of Uttar Pradesh for installation of Community Water Purification Plants.
Further, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation had launched the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) on 22nd March 2017 under NRDWP to provide safe drinking water to about 28,000 arsenic / fluoride affected habitations over a span of 4 years. During 2016-17, Rs.26.31 Crore has been released under NWQSM to Government of Uttar Pradesh to complete ongoing schemes.