(a) whether the Government has taken concrete measures to ensure the purity of drinking water and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether a number of drinking water sources are not being protected properly; and
(c) if so, the steps taken to protect the drinking water sources?
MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI
(GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (c) A Statement of reply is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 476 due for reply on 25.07.2019
(a) to (c) Drinking water supply is a State subject and it is the State Governments who plan, design, approve, execute, operate & maintain the schemes for providing safe drinking water to rural population. For improving the coverage of safe drinking water to rural population, this Ministry supplements the efforts of the States by providing them with technical and financial assistance through the centrally sponsored scheme National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) . The funds provided to the States under NRDWP can be utilized for taking up schemes in water quality affected areas on priority including arsenic/iron affected areas. State-wise releases made under NRDWP during the 2016-17, 2017-18 & 2018-19 are placed at Annexure.
During March 2016, with the recommendation of NITI Aayog, an amount of Rs. 1000 Crores was released to various Arsenic & Fluoride affected States/UTs for installation of Community water purification plants. In addition to this, this Ministry had launched the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) on 22nd March 2017 under NRDWP to provide safe drinking water to 27,544 Arsenic / Fluoride affected rural habitations in the country. Further, To ensure safe drinking water sources, upto 5% of coverage funds can be used by States for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQM&S) activities which inter-alia includes setting up of and upgrading existing Water Quality Laboratories at various levels, providing chemicals and consumables to laboratories etc as per guidelines.
States can also utilize upto 5% of National Rural Drinking Water Programme funds for Support Activities which inter alia includes Information, Education and Communication (IEC) focusing on safe water use practices.