(a) the sources of drinking water in the rural areas
in the country at present;
(b) the accessibility and availability of drinking water
in rural areas, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether more than 20 per cent of people in the
country are getting water from unsafe sources including open wells; and
(d) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to
address this issue?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI )
(a) The sources of drinking water in the country are piped water,
handpumps, tube wells, wells and natural sources like springs,
rivers, ponds etc.
(b) & (c) As per the Census 2011, 84.2% of the households in rural
areas have access to drinking water from improved sources i.e covered
wells, hand pumps and piped water supply. The status of households
with access to drinking water from improved sources, State/UT wise
is at Annexure I.
Regarding the availability of drinking water in rural areas, as per
the Census 2011 figures, 77.9% of the rural households of the country
have drinking water available within or near their premises, i.e.
within a distance of 500 metres. The State/UT wise list is at
Annexure II.
(d) Though water is a State subject, the Government of India is
administering the centrally sponsored scheme, National Rural Drinking
Water Program (NRDWP) for providing financial and technical assistance
to the States to supplement their efforts to provide adequate and safe
drinking water to all rural habitations. Under the NRDWP, State
Governments are empowered to plan, design, approve and implement
rural drinking water supply schemes. A budgetary allocation of
Rs. 11,000 crore has been made for NRDWP in 2013-14. Upto 67% of
the NRDWP funds released to States can be utilized for providing
adequate and safe drinking water to rural habitations. States are
urged to prioritise the coverage of partially covered and quality
affected habitations in their Annual Action Plans under the NRDWP.