Question : Water Testing Laboratories

(a) whether the Government is contemplating on a proposal to set up water testing laboratory in each district of the country particularly of backward areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof with special reference to backward and rural areas;

(c) whether the Government has received any proposal to set up water testing laboratory in each district from some States during the last three years;

(d) if so, the details thereof with special reference to backward and rural areas; and

(e) the steps taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a) to (e) Rural Drinking water supply is a State subject. For improving the coverage of safedrinking water to rural population, this Ministry supplements the efforts of the States byproviding them with technical and financial assistance through the centrally sponsoredscheme National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). It is the State Governmentswho plan, design, approve, execute, operate & maintain Water Quality TestingLaboratory(WQTL) for ensuring safe drinking water to rural population.
Under the Centrally Sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP)guidelines, upto 5% of NRDWP coverage funds can be used by states for Water QualityMonitoring and Surveillance(WQM&S) activities which inter-alia includes setting up of andupgrading existing Water Quality Laboratories at various levels, providing chemicals andconsumables to laboratories etc as per guidelines.
State-wise number of drinking water testing laboratories as reported by the states inIntegrated Management Information System (IMIS) of this Ministry, is placed at Annexure.
***