(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to identify the villages affected with
various chemical contaminations in the drinking water sources in the rural areas of the
country;
(b) if so, the details thereof State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken proposed to be taken by the Government to tackle water quality problems
in the rural areas of the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MS. AGATHA SANGMA)
(a)&(b): As per survey conducted by the States/ UTs, as on 1.4.2005, there were 2,16,968 rural
habitations in the country reported to be affected with chemical contamination in drinking water
sources, viz. Arsenic, Fluoride, Iron, nitrate, salinity, etc. Contamination-wise number of rural
habitations affected with these water quality problems in different states/ UTs is at Annex–I.
Since most of the rural drinking water supply systems are based on ground water, level of
contamination in such sources keeps on changing.
(c): Government of India assists the States in their endeavour to provide safe drinking water
which inter alia includes addressing water quality problems, through a centrally sponsored Rural
Water Supply Programme which has been renamed as National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Under the programme, powers to plan, approve and implement the water supply
schemes have been delegated to the states. Under Bharat Nirman–rural drinking water component
which inter alia includes addressal of water quality problems in rural areas, states have
approved water supply projects/ schemes to address the water quality problems in 2,65,994
quality-affected habitations and have since completed schemes/ projects to provide safe water
in 46,344 habitations. State-wise details are at Annex–II. Under the new NRDWP guidelines,
states can utilize upto 20% of the total allocation to address the water quality problems in
their states. Further, upto 20% of the NRDWP funds can also be utilized by the states for
ensuring of sustainability of sources and systems on 100% grant-in-basis, which helps in
tackling water quality problems also.
In 2006, Government of India has also started National Rural Drinking Water Quality
Monitoring and Surveillance programme. Under this programme, 5 persons from each Gram
Panchayat are trained in simple water quality testing methods for testing the village water
samples. For this purpose chemical and bacteriological water testing kits are also supplied
to the village panchayats.
To provide safe and clean drinking water to children in rural schools, in 2008-09,
Government has also launched Jalmani programme under which 100% financial assistance has
been provided for installation of standalone water purification systems in rural schools.