(a) whether the Government has any proposal for providing Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants for safe drinking water in the areas where the quality of water is not as per approved standards;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT wise especially in Bihar;
(c) the number of RO plants installed as of now, State/UT-wise; and
(d) the details of guidelines for sanctioning RO plants in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE
IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)
(a) to (d) The Ministry has informed all the States to commission surface water based piped water supply schemes in all water quality affected habitations as a long term sustainable solution. However, since these projects may take a long gestation period (say 3-5 years) and the rural people cannot be put to risk of consuming contaminated water, all States have been advised to install community water purification plants, especially in arsenic and fluoride affected habitations, as a short term immediate measure for providing 8-10 lpcd (litre per capita per day) of safe water for drinking and cooking purpose only. The technology for community water purification plant has to be selected by the States depending upon the local conditions. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is one of the technologies of water purification. The Ministry has issued Operational Guidelines for community water purification plants to the States on 13.11.2014. Many States have not updated the factual position of commissioning of RO Plants into the online Integrated Management Information System of the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. However, based on review meetings, discussions with State officials, video conference, IMIS data, so far 7,368 RO plants have been commissioned by the States. Bihar State has reported installation of only one RO Plant. The State-wise information of installation of RO plants is at Annexure.
*****