(a) whether Government has initiated Hydro-Geo Morphological Maps to locate the drinking water sources;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to curtail the pollution in drinking water sources?
(a) whether Government has initiated Hydro-Geo Morphological Maps to locate the drinking water sources;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to curtail the pollution in drinking water sources?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION (SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)
(a)&(b) The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India had utilized the services of the National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Hyderabad and generated 4,898 Hydro-Geo-Morphological Maps (HGM maps) covering the entire country and distributed to the States. These maps which are on 1:50,000 scale could be utilized to zoom down to correct locations for siting sustainability structures (including for ground water recharge) and for siting locations for sustainable production wells. Geo-physical survey may also be required after utilizing these HGM maps for accurately pin-pointing the above-said locations.
(c) Chemical contamination of drinking water sources if it is geogenic, then, it is due to natural reasons. Sometimes due to over-exploitation of ground water due to other reasons like agriculture, industry, etc.,contamination may take place. Chemical contamination due to man-made reasons may be due to industry, agricultural practices (use of excessive pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) which is not the mandate of this Ministry. In order to control biological contamination of drinking water sources, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) has been launched in rural areas to provide and use sanitary toilets and also promote effective solid and liquid waste management. The Ministry under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme, also earmarked 3% funds released to States for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance which not only facilitate water quality testings in laboratories, use of field test kits and bacterial vials in Gram Panchayats but also suggests the States to conduct sanitary survey of all drinking water sources, curb leakages on hand pump platforms, pipelines, etc. and disinfect, if found positive, for biological contamination.