MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)
(a) Yes Madam. Eleven states namely Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra had been facing drinking water crisis due to drought situations. Moreover 2 States namely Bihar and Haryana were also facing water crisis in some parts of the States. However, the situation is likely to improve now with the onset of monsoon and good rainfall in all these regions. This Ministry does not have any records related to human or cattle lives lost due to lack of availability of drinking water in the country.
(b) and (c) No Madam. This Ministry has given due importance to the problem of drinking water caused in rural areas due to drought. Timely advisories were issued to all States to take all contingent measures to mitigate the situation. Initial instalments of funds under NRDWP have been released very early in the financial year to enable the States to tackle the situation.
For Ministry has earmarked 2% of the total fund allocated under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) for meeting drinking water needs of the rural areas in the wake of natural disasters which inter alia include droughts also.
Funds under Calamity component is released on the basis recommendation received from the High Level Committee (HLC). Moreover, the States have also been asked to utilize the flexi fund which is 10% of the allocation to the States to mitigate the drinking water problem in rural areas in case of drought. Also, States may utilize 15% of Operation & Maintenance funds available under NRDWP to meet the requirement.
(d) Yes Madam. As per the information uploaded on Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of this Ministry, all States (having drinking water shortage due to drought like situation) have provided the details of measures taken by them to mitigate the scarcity. The details of various measures taken by all droughts affected States is at Annexure.
(e) The Government of India has directed all States / UT on the onset of the summer season to take the following short term corrective measures to mitigate the shortage of drinking water in rural areas –
o Immediate repair & maintenance of all water supply systems, hand pumps and bore wells should be done. If required sufficient number of mobile van with spare parts should be made available in the affected areas.
o There are a large number of private bore wells where ground water yield is good. These should hired by the district collectors and water should be equitably distributed to the affected population.
o Due to fall in water table, more riser pipes may be used to increase the yield of the hand pumps. Sufficient number of riser pumps may be used to increase the availability of drinking water in the affected areas.
o Wherever water reservoir / ponds are available, they may be used to increase the capacity of drinking water through piped water supply systems.
o Wherever aquifer is good, new bore wells should be set up.
o Wherever the above possibilities are not suitable, water should be transported through water tankers and supplied to the affected population. Wherever water quality is not good mobile water treatment plants should be used to provide safe drinking water.
For implementing all the above activities, this Ministry has allowed the affected States to use flexi funds to the extent of 10% of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) funds.
As on 19.07.2016, a total amount of Rs. 2032.98 cores is available with these drought affected States as Central share. This fund along with the State matching share may be utilized to take corrective actions as well as for permanent solution.
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