(a) to (e): Intake of Arsenic contaminated drinking water leads to various clinical complications at times causing death. These clinical complications may also arise because of other reasons as well. There are, therefore, obvious difficulties and data on morbidity and mortality due to Arsenic contamination is not maintained Centrally. As per information provided by Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, 1800 habitations are affected by contamination due to Arsenic. The details are at Annexure I.
Consumption of contaminated drinking water can cause diseases such as Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Enteric Fever (Typhoid), Cholera, Viral Hepatitis etc. State/UT-wise number of cases and deaths due to Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Enteric Fever (Typhoid), Cholera, and Viral Hepatitis, as reported by State/UT Governments, during the years 2012-2015 are given at Annexure II.
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Provision of safe drinking water is the main strategy to control diseases caused by drinking of contaminated water. Rural water supply is a State subject. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) for providing safe and adequate drinking water supply facilities in rural areas of the country. 5% of NRDWP Funds are earmarked for support funds which are allotted to the States on 100% central share for activities such as IEC (Information, Education and Communication) for awareness generation, HRD (Human Resource Development) for capacity building and for MIS (Management Information System). Further, under NRDWP, 3% of funds allocated to the States are earmarked for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQMS) activities on a 100% Central share basis which, inter alia, includes testing of drinking water sources at the Panchayat level by using simple field test kits, upgrading of existing water quality testing laboratories and setting up of new State/district/sub-district water quality testing laboratories wherever such facility is not available or needed. Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance Programme aims at empowering rural communities to manage and keep surveillance on their own drinking water sources. The State/UT wise details of releases made to Arsenic and Flouride affected states are at Annexure III.
Further, as informed by Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, an amount of Rs. 10 crore has been earmarked for IEC activities under the Information, Education & Communication component of HRD & Capacity Building Scheme for the year 2015-16.
Government of India also started the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF) in the 11th Five Year Plan. So far, 111 districts have been covered under the programme. The important components of the programme are surveillance of fluorosis in the community, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, capacity building in the form of training and manpower support, establishment of diagnostic facilities, management of fluorosis cases including treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and health education. Details of the fund released under NPPCF are given in Annexure IV.
Further, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi provides technical assistance to State/UT Governments on prevention and control of water-borne diseases in carrying out investigation of outbreaks of such diseases under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). At the National level, NCDC also coordinates laboratory support for outbreak investigations, besides conducting regular training courses for development of trained manpower.
Health System Strengthening support being given to the State Governments under National Health Mission (NHM) also enhances capacity of the Health Institutions, up to the district level, to treat and manage water borne diseases.
Health is State subject. This Ministry has no scheme for compensation to the families of persons who die due to consumption of contaminated water.
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