Question : National Water Quality Sub-Mission

(a) whether the Government has formulated the National Water Quality Sub-Mission under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) for focused funding to implement piped water supply schemes in arsenic and fluoride affected habitations for providing safe drinking water on a long term substainable basis;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any plan to allocate special funds to the State of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra as the same have higher number of affected areas; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

(a) to (d) The Ministry of drinking water and sanitation has launched the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) on 22nd March 2017 to provide safe drinking water to about 28,000 arsenic and fluoride affected habitations. Under NWQSM, focused funding will be provided to schemes / projects meant for mitigating arsenic and fluoride contamination. States can take up three types of schemes, i.e Surface water based piped water supply scheme, Safe ground water based piped water supply scheme and Ground water with treatment technology based scheme / Community Water Purification Plants (CWPPs).
During February / March 2017 under National Water Quality Sub-Mission funds to an extent of Rs. 814.13 Crore has been released to complete 588 ongoing piped water supply schemes. Out of which Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra States have been provided an amount of Rs.490.64 Crore, Rs. 8.28 Crore and Rs. 14.83 Crore central share respectively to complete 57, 75 and 49 ongoing schemes respectively. During the current financial year 2017-18 under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Rs. 1000 Crore has been earmarked for National Water Quality Sub-Mission on arsenic & fluoride.
To get the funding under National Water Sub-Mission for new projects, States have to submit the proposal online in the Ministry’s web portal with requisite documents. As on 07th August, 2017, Government of Rajasthan, Government of Karnataka and Government of Maharashtra States have not submitted online any proposals under NWQSM.
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