Question : Water Quality

(a) whether the Government has provided adequate funds and technical assistance to the States for monitoring and surveillance of water quality including testing and cleanliness of drinking water in the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State / UT-wise along with its utilisation reported by the States during the said period and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the number of Water Quality Testing Laboratories set up/upgraded during the said period across the country, State/UT-wise;
(d) Whether the Government has received requests from the States for additional funds/technical assistance in this regard during the said period;
(e) if so, the details thereof, State / UT wise along with the action taken/being taken on such requests by the Government so far; and
(f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this direction?

MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a) & (b) State-wise funds allocated, released and expenditure incurred under Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQMS) componentof National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), during the last three years and the current year (as on 31st July, 2017) is at Annexure-I.The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has published the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Protocol and widely distributed to all the States up to the district level in February 2013. The Protocol is recommendatory to be followed by the States. The Protocol defines parameters of testing, frequency of sampling, laboratory requirements like chemicals, glassware, equipment’s, manpower, space, etc. at various levels i.e., the state, district, sub-division and block level laboratories.

(c) State wise number of water quality testing laboratories set up/upgraded during the last three years and current year (as on 01st August, 2017) as reported by the States into Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry as on 01st August, 2017 are at Annexure-II to V.
(d) to (f) The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation supplements the efforts of the states by providing them with technical and financial assistance through the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Under NRDWP, 3% of funds isearmarked for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQMS), which inter alia include taking up works relating to setting up of new / up-gradation of district/sub-district water quality testing laboratories, providing chemicals and consumables to laboratories, providing field test kits/refills to Gram Panchayats etc. First installment of WQMS funds are provided to states based on NRDWP allocation criteria andsecond installment and additional funds are provided to States based on their performance, demand & submission of requisite documents including utilization certificate.
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