Question : SHORTAGE OF DRINKING WATER

(a) whether the Government have identified those regions in the country where non-availability of drinking water has become a grave problem;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) the percentage of people living in these regions in comparison to total population of the country;

(d) the annual demand of the drinking water in the said regions;

(e) whether the Government have assessed the acute shortage of drinking water due to the ensuing drought in each State particularly in the districts of Orissa;

(f) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

g) the steps taken by the Government to solve the drinking water problem in these regions during the Tenth Plan period alongwith projected budgetary allocation for the purpose?

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SHANTA KUMAR)

(a) to (g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.296 due for reply on 11.3.2003

18 States have reported about the scarcity problem of drinking water due to the drought situation. These States are Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The statement showing the number of districts affected State-wise is at Annex-I

The exact percent of people living in the drought affected districts has not been reported by the States concerned. However, out of 471 districts in the 18 States, 392 districts have been affected as per reports received.

The demand for drinking water differs from place to place. However, Government of India have accepted 40 ltrs per capita per day for human beings as the requirement according to the norms adopted in the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP). Mitigation of scarcity of drinking water due to drought is the State Government`s responsibility. However, Government of India in the Ministry of Agriculture releases funds under Calamity Relief Fund and National Calamity Contingency Funds. The Department of Drinking Water Supply supplements the State Governments effort through 5% earmarked funds under ARWSP. The Government of India send Central Teams to the States affected by drought to make an assessment of the drought situation including shortage of drinking water. As per the reports of various Teams that visited the States, financial assistance has been given to the States out of 5% funds earmarked out of ARWSP for mitigating contingency arising due to natural calamities and emergent situation. The details of such funds released out of ARWSP to drought affected States are as follows:-

(Rs. in lakh)
1	Gujarat	453.00
2	Himachal Pradesh	890.00
3	Karnataka	157.68
4	Madhya Pradesh	367.08
5	Orissa	311.25
6	Rajasthan	1200.00
Total	3379.01

S.No.	State	Number of total Number of drought affected districts	Districts in the state declared by the state Government
1	Andhra Pradesh	23	22
2	Chhatisgarh	16	16
3	Gujarat	25	13
4	Haryana	19	19
5	Himachal Pradesh	12	12
6	Jammu & Kashmir	14	Not yet declared
7	Jharkhand	22	22
8	Karnataka	27	24
9	Kerala	14	11
10	Madhya Pradesh	45	33
11	Maharashtra	35	33
12	Orissa	30	30
13	Punjab	17	17
14	Rajasthan	32	32
15	Tamil Nadu	29	28
16	Uttaranchal	13	13
17	Uttar Pradesh	70	64
18	West Bengal	28 3	Total	471	392