Question : PIPED DRINKING WATER

(a) whether the Government has drawn any action plan for the supply of piped drinking water to households in the rural areas of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of villages/rural habitations proposed to be covered under the said Scheme, StateAJT-wise;

(c) the estimated expenditure likely to be incurred under the scheme and the funds so far provided for the purpose, State/UTwise; and

(d) the time by which all the villages/ rural habitations are likely to be covered by the piped drinking water at household level?

MINISTER FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION ( SHRI BIRENDER SINGH )

(a) to (d ) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

Statement referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 172 due for answer on 04/12/2014

(a ) Under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), this Ministry is giving special emphasis on piped water supply through perennial surface water sources in rural habitations. The Ministry has prepared a Strategic Plan extending the piped water supply to more households in the rural areas. The interim goal till 2017 is to cover 50% of all rural households with piped water supply. By 2022, the goal is to cover 90% rural households with piped water supply.

(b ) Rural drinking water supply is a State subject. This Ministry supplements the efforts of the States to provide drinking water supply by providing technical and financial assistance to the States under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), in rural areas of the country. The State Governments are vested with powers to select, plan and implement drinking water supply schemes under the NRDWP to cover more habitations with piped drinking water supply. During the annual Action Plan (AAP) meetings with the States at the beginning of the financial year, the targets regarding the coverage of habitations rural water supply schemes including those with piped water supply schemes are decided and agreed upon. The details of the habitations which are proposed to be covered with piped water supply in the year 2014-15 , State/UT wise is given at Annexure -1.

(c ) The funds earmarked/allocated for rural drinking water supply for the Twelfth Five Year Plan period ( 2012-2017) is Rs 68,786 crores. The Ministry has been allocated Rs 31, 200 crores during the first three years of the 12th Five Year Plan. The funds allocated and released as on 30.11.2014 under the NRDWP during the first three years of the 12 Five Year Plan period , State/UT wise is at Annexure-II.

(d ) As per the Strategic Plan , the goal is to provide 90% rural households with piped water supply by 2022. Ministry is giving special emphasis on piped water supply through perennial surface water sources in rural habitations and have asked the States to design new water supply schemes taking this into consideration. Taking water supply connection inside the household is a voluntary action on part of the household for which State Governments have been asked to motivate the rural population.