(a) the names of the States where drought like situation has arisen leading to
shortage of drinking water;
(b) the steps taken by the Union Government to overcome the situation;
(c) whether the Union Government has received any request for additional financial
assistance from these States;
(d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
(e) the reaction of the Government thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI BHARATSINH SOLANKI)
(a): The names of the States where drought like situation has arisen leading to shortage
of drinking water are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab.
(b): The Ministry has written to all State Governments in June, 2012 informing them about
the forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD) and advising them to take steps for
preparedness and response in order to tackle drought like situations in States and also to
ensure preparedness for any drought like situation that may develop during South-West monsoon
2012. The States were requested to prepare a Contingency Plan for the same. As per Standard
Operating Procedure, States have prepared Contingency Plans which include deepening of wells;
rejuvenation, repair, replacement of pumping machinery including handpumps; augmentation of
source; construction of new wells, re-boring of old tube wells, hydro-fracturing and water
supply through tankers. The Ministry had also requested the States to send regular reports on
the various activities taken up by them to mitigate drinking water problems. Minister of
Agriculture and Food Processing Industries and Minister of Rural Development and Drinking
Water and Sanitation along with a team of Central officials visited the affected States in
August 2012, to assess the drought situation including scarcity of drinking water.
(c)&(d): The States of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan had
submitted requests for additional financial assistance for water supply for Rs. 397.98 crore,
Rs. 206 crore, Rs. 478.63 crore, Rs. 26 crore, Rs. 43.24 crore and Rs. 819.11 crore
respectively.
(e): The Ministry has, after obtaining approval from the Empowered Group of Ministers
(EGOM) on drought, released funds under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme NRDWP
(calamity component) to the States of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan and preponed the
release of the 2nd installment of NRDWP funds for 2012-13, to the States of Karnataka, Gujarat,
Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra. The details of the funds released to the affected States under
NRDWP for rural water supply in 2011-12, are as below.
(In Rs. Cr.) State NRDWP (Program) component NRDWP (Calamity) component Total release Release Release Maharashtra 459.42 15.00 474.423 Gujarat 381.62 0.0 381.62 Karnataka 563.24 24.00 587.24 Rajasthan 650.41 11.00 661.41 Haryana 230.95 0.0 230.95 Punjab 90.33 0.0 90.33