Question : Pilot Projects under Swajal Project

(a) whether the Government is planning to launch six pilot projects for clean drinking water supply in villages under ‘Swajal Project’ and if so, the details thereof and names of the States selected for launching of pilot projects;
(b) whether there is need to launch projects for clean drinking water supply in villages across the country and if so, the time by which the projects for clean drinking water supply in villages are likely to be launched in all States;
(c) the percentage of funds proposed to be provided by the Government;
(d) whether NITI Aayog has identified some districts for implementation of clean drinking water supply in villages and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether ground water level is likely to be increased by implementation of said projects relating to supply of clean drinking water in villages and if so, the manner in which the same is likely to be increased?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI SS Ahluwalia)
(a) Yes. The pilot project is to be implemented at the Gram Panchayat level initially in six States viz. Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. So far two pilot projects have been launched in Baghori village of Uttarakashi district of Uttarakhand State and Bhikampura village of Karauli district of Rajasthan State.
(b) Depending on the result of the pilot project, this will be scaled up in the country based on the experiences gained after successful completion as well as operation & maintenance of these pilot projects.
(c) The funds for implementing the Swajal Pilot Project will be met from existing NRDWP funds and will be shared among Government of India, State Government, Gram Panchayat and village households in the ratio 81:9:5:5 in Himalayan States and North east States and 45:45:5:5 in other states.
(d) Yes, NITI Aayog had conveyed a list of 102 aspirational districts which are identified for transformation in sectors including drinking water.
(e) Catchment Area Conservation & Management Plan
Under Swajal implementation, the community and the Support Organisation may discuss the source, the catchment area, and the potential sources of pollution of the source, and what would be done to ensure that the catchment area and the source are protected. The community thus is able to recognize the dangers of deforestation and soil erosion of the catchment and spell out in the plan actions to be taken to ensure the protection ground water level and of the overall environment.
Under collective responsibility in Swajal project, wherever the community finds that the water source in question is susceptible to pollution and depletion, and remedial measures are required the community may propose the plan of the activities and the finance will be available under the project through mutual collection in community participation or through help of state government.