Question : ENCEPHALITIS AFFECTED DISTRICTS

(a) whether the Government has identified some districts in the country hit by encephalitis—a disease caused by unsafe drinking water;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government has allocated or proposes to allocate additional financial assistance to the affected States;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the details of the funds released so far, State-wise;

(e) the details of facilities likely to be extended for provision of safe drinking water in encephalitis affected districts of the country, State-wise;

(f) whether the funds allocated are sufficient for provision of safe drinking water in these districts;

(g) if so, the details thereof; and

(h) if not, whether Government proposes to raise the allocation for the purpose and the details thereof?

MINISTER OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a)&(b): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India had identified 171 districts in the country affected with Japanese Encephalitis/Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE/AES), of which 60 high priority affected districts in 5 States viz., Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have been identified. The list of these districts is at Annexure-I.

(c)&(d): Under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) upto 67% of the funds released to the States can be utilized for tackling water quality problems. In addition, 5% NRDWP allocation has been earmarked to States to tackle chemical contamination in drinking water and for provision of safe drinking water in JE/AES affected high priority districts. Of this, 75% is allocated for tackling chemical contamination and 25% for tackling bacteriological contamination in 60 JE/AES affected districts. The State-wise allocation of the 5% Water Quality earmarked fund is at Annexure-II. Proposals from the States of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have been received for providing safe drinking water in JE/AES affected districts and action initiated to release funds to these States.

(e): The facilities that may be extended for provision of safe drinking water in JE/AES affected districts include activities like disinfection of sources, replacement of public shallow handpumps with India Mark II handpumps, raising the height of the platform of the handpumps, energizing borewells and provision of mini-water supply schemes, solid and liquid waste management, maintenance/providing soakage pits to drain off excess water, awareness generation, etc.

(f) to(h): This allocation of funds to JE/AES affected districts under 5% Water Quality earmarked fund is an additionality to the normal NRDWP allocation every year from which upto 67% funds can be utilized for provision of safe drinking water including in these affected districts.