Lok Sabha Question No. 405 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Technologies for Water Conservation
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: MAHEISH GIRRI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 405 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017

## Technologies for Water Conservation

## *405. SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

Will  the Minister of DRINKING WATER  AND SANITATION be pleased to state:

- ( a ) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  to  document  multiple technologies which are currently being used for water conservation in the rural  areas and if so, the details thereof;
- ( b ) whether  the  Government has conducted any research to  improve drinking water quality especially in rural areas and if so, the details thereof;
- ( c ) the  technological  advancements made  to  reduce  water  scarcity  during the last two years; and
- ( d ) the details of the major developments which took place in rural sanitation technology  during  the  last  two years?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (d)  A Statement is laid on the Table of theHouse.

## Statement referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 405 due for reply on 30.03.2017

- (a) This  Ministry  has  not  conducted  any  study  in  recent  times  to  document multiple technologies which are currently being used for water conservation  in  the  rural  areas.  However, as reported by Central Ground Water  Board  (CGWB),  the  board  has  prepared  a  conceptual  document entitled  'Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to  Ground  Water  in  India', 2013  involving  ground  water  scientists  and  experts.  The  Master  Plan envisages  construction  of  about  23  lakhs  Artificial  Recharge  and  Rain Water  harvesting  structures  in  rural  areas  and  88  lakhs  Rain  Water harvesting  structures  in  urban  areas.  The  various  structures  proposed  in rural  areas  include:  Percolation  Tanks,  Check  Dams,  Nala  Bunds,  Gully Plugs, Gabion Structures etc. and sub-surface techniques of recharge shaft, well recharge etc. have been recommended.
- (b) Yes Madam. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of  India  has  got  conducted  35  research  and  development  projects  for improvement of drinking  water  quality  in  the  rural  areas  of  the  country. The improvement of drinking water quality include reduction / removal of fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, iron, chromium etc. For conducting the research, the  Ministry  awarded  and  funded  the  work  to  reputed  institutions  like Indian Institute of Technology, National Environmental Engineering Research  Institute,  National  Chemical  Laboratory,  National  Metallurgical Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science, etc.
- (c) Under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), the following technologies are being used in drinking water schemes to reduce drinking water scarcity:-
- i. Flood recharging method (only for regional drinking water systems)
- ii. Gully plugs
- iii. Recharge Pit
- iv. Contour trench/bund
- v. Semi-circular trenches on slopes
- vi. Check dam/Nala bund
- vii. Percolation pond/tank
- viii. Sub-surface dyke
- ix. Injection well
- x. Injection spring
- xi. Induced spring
- xii. Recharge shaft
- xiii. Recharge well/Dug well with radial recharging systems
- xiv. Point source recharging systems(defunct borewells and abandoned dugwells)
- xv. Recharging through sand dunes-coastal desert
- xvi. Levees - for retaining the flash run-off
- xvii. Infiltration well with collector well
- xviii. Infiltration gallery
- xix. Ooranis or scientifically developed village ponds with in-situ filtration and collection system
- xx. Roof water harvesting for community structures like, anganwadis, GP office, etc.
- (d) An expert committee  under  chairmanship of Dr. R.A.  Mashelkar  has  been constituted to suggest new  innovative technologies in Sanitation. The committee have accredited 10 innovative technologies in Sanitation as under.

|   S.N. | Accredited Innovative Technologies                   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Water less urinals                                   |
|      2 | Fluidized Media Reactor for Liquid Waste Management  |
|      3 | Textile Reinforced Concrete Modular Toilet           |
|      4 | Plastic - Tar Road                                   |
|      5 | Pre Assimilated Technology                           |
|      6 | Soil Bio Technology                                  |
|      7 | Phytorid Technology                                  |
|      8 | Anaerobic Bio-digestor Toilet                        |
|      9 | Aerobic Bio-digestor Toilet                          |
|     10 | Bioclean BD anaerobic facultative microbial cultures |

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