Question : Contamination of Drinking Water

(a) whether the contamination of drinking water is increasing and the State Governments are unable to provide pure water due to lack of latest technologies and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
(b) whether the Government has proposed to give financial assistance to the States to update the outdated water purification technology with the best global practices;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has sought technological/financial help from external agencies/ sources; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c) In recent years, Government has taken a number of steps to make provision of potable drinking water in quality-affected habitations, as reported by States/ UTs, the number of habitations with contaminants in drinking water sources beyond permissible limit, is coming down. Year-wise details are as under:
As on date Number of rural habitations with contaminants in drinking water sources
01.04.2018 64,743
01.04.2019 57,539
01.04.2020 54,637
01.04.2021 36,054
06.02.2022 35,370


Government of India, in partnership with States/ UTs, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to provide potable tap water supply to every rural household by 2024 with an estimated outlay of 3.60 lakh Crore. Under JJM, financial assistance is provided to States/ UTs. While planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to households, priority is given to quality–affected habitations. States may decide appropriate water treatment technologies for treatment of water to provide potable water to households.
(d) & (e) For Jal Jeevan Mission, this Department has not sought any assistance from external agencies.
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