Question : SHORTAGE OF DRINKING WATER

(a) the number of villages which lack quality drinking water in the rural and tribal areas of the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has set any target to provide safe drinking water in rural and tribal areas and if so, the funds released, utilized and achievements made during the last three years and the current year, State/UT wise;

(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to expedite the availability of drinking water in rural and tribal areas of the country;

(d) whether any kind of conflict is going on with some State Governments in implementing the safe Drinking Water Projects, if so, the details thereof and the total number of households connected with supply lines in the country, State/UT-wise; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to give priority to the supply of safe drinking water to the tribal areas, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a) The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitations monitors the coverage of drinking water supply in rural areas in terms of habitations and not in terms of villages. The Ministry has an online Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) in which States have reported status of coverage rural habitations with adequate and potable drinking water supply in respect of General, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe dominated habitations. As per information entered by States, as on 15.03.2014, the Status of coverage of total rural and ST rural habitations is given at Annexure-I.

(b) During 2014-15, as per information entered by States/UTs on IMIS, against a target of 1,37,256 habitations a total of 98,316 habitations have been covered upto 15.03.2015. With regard to the target of coverage of 35167 Scheduled Tribe dominated habitations 23575 habitations have been covered as on 15.03.2015. The State/UT-wise details of funds released, utilized and achievements made during last three years and current year are at Annexure-II and III respectively.

(c) to (e) No conflict has been reported with any State Government in implementing safe drinking water projects in the country. The details of rural households in the country connected with piped water supply is at Annexure-IV. Rural Water Supply is a State Subject. Under the NRDWP, the State Governments are vested with the powers to plan, execute and implement drinking water supply schemes including tribal areas of the country. Under NRDWP, 10% of NRDWP funds are allocated for coverage of Scheduled Tribe population in the country.