Lok Sabha Question No. 4742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Purification of Ground Water
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, Shrirang Appa Barne, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4742

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017

## PURIFICATION OF GROUND WATER

4742. SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether long-term exposure to arsenic through ground/drinking water and food may cause cancer and skin lesions according to the World Health Organization website and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is an urgent need for a nationwide movement to make people aware about it and if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  come  up  with  an  exhaustive  work  plan  to  tackle  the challenges posed by the presence of arsenic in ground water and if so, the details of the action plan prepared in this regard;

(d) whether the Government is giving special attention to tap alternate aquifers for supplying arsenicfree groundwater under National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Programme of CGWB; and

(e) if so, the names of the States where the said programme is being implemented along with the future course of action to purify the ground water?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)    As  per  the  report  of  the  World  Health  Organization  entitled  'Arsenic  in  Drinking  Water' published  in  2011,  there  is  overwhelming  evidence  that  consumption  of  elevated  levels  of  Arsenic through drinking water is causally related to the development of cancer  at several sites particularly skin, bladder and lung. In several parts of the World, arsenic-induced disease, including cancer, is a significant public health problem.

(b)    Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB), through its Training  Institute,  under  Human Resources Development & Capacity Building Scheme of Ministry of Water Resources RD & GR is organizing block level training courses (tier -III) in the entire Country, including Arsenic contaminated ground water blocks.  These trainings are conducted at grass root level involving stakeholders to educate them on water conservation and pollution aspects.  During 2017, CGWB has also conducted a workshop on Arsenic problem in ground water and its remediation in Ganga basin to discuss and evolve Arsenic mitigation strategy.

(c)  to  (e)    Ministry  of  Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation  has  informed  that  the  States  are  assisted technically and financially in providing safe drinking water through the centrally sponsored National Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP).    Upto  67%  of  funds  provided  to  the  States  under NRDWP can be utilized for coverage and tackling water quality problems with priority to Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations.  In addition, the States also received certain funds under the 5% Water Quality earmarked funds.

The State Governments have been directed to ensure availability of safe drinking water through  Piped  Water  Supply  as  a  long  term  measures.    Since  tackling  this  problem  is  a  long  term measure, NITI Aayog, as a stop gap arrangement, is supporting the State Governments for installation of Community Water Purification Plants for providing safe drinking water in the rural habitations of the Country, where water is contaminated with Arsenic and Fluoride.  To this end, over and above the regular  allocation  of  funds  under  NRDWP,  on  the  recommendations  of  NITI  Aayog,  Ministry  of Finance has released Rs. 800.00 Crore during the financial year 2015-16 as a one-time 100% Central assistance  to  the  States  affected  with  water  quality  from  Arsenic  and  Fluoride  in  the  Country.    In addition,  based  on  the  recommendations  of  NITI  Aayog,  Ministry  of  Finance  has  also  released  Rs. 100.00 crore to each of the State of Rajasthan and West Bengal during the financial year 2015-16 to ensure  supply  of  safe  drinking  water  through  surface  water  based  piped  water  supply  schemes  in quality affected habitations as last mile connectivity.

Since the problem of contamination of water by Arsenic and Fluoride has been serious in the rural habitations, Central Government has taken cognizance of this serious problem and decided to take  short-term  and  long  term  measures  with  a  ring  fenced  funding  to  tackle  this  problem  in  the remaining habitations of the Country.  Over and above the normal release of funds to the States, during 2016-17, under NRDWP, the Centre share amounting to Rs. 746.23 crore has also been released to the States  affected  with  Arsenic  and  Fluoride  under  Water  Quality  Sub-Mission  in  the  ratio  of  90:10 (Centre:State)  for  Northern-Eastern  States  and  50:50  (Centre:State)  for  other  States  focusing  on mitigation of contamination of Fluoride and Arsenic in drinking water.

Under NAQUIM Programme, CGWB is giving special attention to map arsenic affected areas in the States of Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

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