Question : Water Quality

(a) whether the Union Government has conducted any review meeting with respect to water quality and sustainability of rural drinking water supply recently and if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(b) whether the Government has received any feedback on ongoing programmes for supplying drinking water and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has allocated adequate resources strategically and prioritized drinking water supply schemes which are at an advanced stage of completion; and
(d) if so, the details of the funds allocated or released for various projects in the country with special reference to Karnataka during each of the last three years and the current year, State and project-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a) The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS), Government of India had conducted Annual Action Plan meetings with all States / UTs and reviewed the performance of rural water supply sector including issues pertaining to water quality and sustainability and also to set targets for the next year. The main outcome of the meetings were that no new habitation will be sanctioned with water supply schemes under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) other than i) arsenic and fluoride affected habitations, ii) Gram Panchayats falling under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), iii) provision of piped water supply in open defecation free (ODF) verified villages and iv) Solar dual pump schemes of the Ministry.
(b) & (c) Government of India has advised all the States / UTs to prioritise coverage of piped water supply schemes which are at an advanced stage of completion i.e., first priority to 75% and above physically completed schemes followed by 50% and above physically completed schemes. NRDWP funds shall be utilised for these projects with exception only to i) arsenic and fluoride affected habitations, ii) Gram Panchayats falling under SAGY and iii) provision of piped water supply in ODF verified villages and iv) Solar dual pump schemes of the Ministry. As per the feedback received from the States, as per the on-line Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the MDWS, 23,918 habitations have been provided piped water supply benefiting 1.44 Crore rural people of the country during 2016-17 (till 23/3/2017).
(d) State-wise funds allocated, released and expenditure incurred during the last three years and current year (till 23/3/2017) including Karnataka State is at Annexure. Project-wise information is maintained by the respective States.