Question : Hard Water Resources in Karnataka and Rajasthan

(a) whether only hard water is available in some water resources in Rajasthan and Karnataka;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the measures being taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to improve drinking water quality in those areas and the funds allocated and released for the purpose;
(c) whether the Government proposes promotion of rainwater harvesting for drinking purposes and if so, the details of policies formulated by the Government in this regard;
(d) whether the Government proposes to constitute a committee for rain water harvesting in rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has allocated any funds to the State Government of Rajasthan and Karnataka in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FORDRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a) & (b) Hardness is one of the indicators of salinity of water. As reported by the States into the online Integrated management Information System as on 21/11/2016, in Rajasthan State, there are 12,929 rural habitations affected with excess salinity in rural drinking water sources and the population affected is 29,66,790. In Karnataka, 75 rural habitations are affected with excess salinity and population affected is 32,798.
Rural drinking water supply is a State subject and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India assists the States with technical and financial assistance through the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Upto 67% funds released to the States can be utilized for coverage and tackling water quality problems. Further, 5% NRDWP funds are also earmarked for tackling water quality problems due to chemical contamination and Japanese Encephalitis/ Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (JE/AES). Funds allocated and relased to Rajasthan and Karnataka under NRDWP during the current financial year 2016-17 as on 17/11/2016 is at Annexure-I.
(c) to (e)Under NRDWP, upto 10% funds released to the States can be utilized by the States towards sustainability of rural drinking water sources which interalia include rainwater harvesting. Therefore States are encouraged to take up rainwater harvesting structures especially in desert and drought prone areas. At the State level, there is State Water and Sanitation Mission, at the district level, District Water and Sanitation Committee and at the Gram Panchayat level, there is Village Water and Sanitation Committee. These Committees will promote rainwater harvesting and there is no necessity of constituting any further Committees.