(a) the details of the percentage of population having access to safe drinking water in the country, State-wise; and
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to provide safe drinking water free from chemical and other pollutants to the rest of the population particularly in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh with district-wise data?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) As reported by States/ UTs, as on 25.11.2019, 81.24% rural habitations having 76.58% population are fully covered with provision of 40 litres or more per capita per day (lpcd) and 15.53% rural habitations having 19.67% population are partially covered, i.e. with provision of less than 40 lpcd whereas 3.23% rural habitations having 3.75% population is having water sources with quality issues. State-wise details of coverage of rural habitations is at Annexure.
(b) Rural drinking water supply is a State subject and Government of India assists States by providing financial and technical assistance to provide potable water to rural population through centrally sponsored scheme Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Powers to plan, approve, and implement rural water supply schemes is vested with States. To enable every rural household to have Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) with 55 liter per capita per day (lpcd) by 2024, Government of India has launched Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), with an outlay of ?3.60 lakhs Crore.
In March 2016, with the recommendation of NITI Aayog, an amount of ? 1,000 Crores was released to various Arsenic & Fluoride affected States for installation of community water purification plants and commissioning of piped water supply schemes. An amount of Rs. 1.05 Crore and Rs. 24.08 Crore has been released to Chhattisgarh & Maharashtra States respectively.
Further, in March 2017, National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) was launched as a part of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), which has now been subsumed under Jal Jeevan Mission, to provide safe drinking water to 27,544 Arsenic/ Fluoride affected rural habitations in the country. An amount of Rs. 0.92 Crore and Rs. 18.79 Crore has been released to Chhattisgarh & Maharashtra States respectively.