Lok Sabha Question No. 49 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-02
Subject: Fluoride affected Habitations in A.P.
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.49 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2017

## FLUORIDE AFFECTED HABITATIONS IN AP

49. SHRI JAYDEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION be pleased to state? (a) the total number of habitations and districts in Andhra Pradesh affected by fluoride in drinking water; (b) the steps taken by the Government to make them fluoride-free; and (c) the details of technical and financial assistance provided to the State Government by the Union Government to deal with the situation during each of the last two years and the

- current year?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

- (a) District-wise number of fluoride affected habitations in rural drinking water sources as reported by the States into Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry as on 30/01/2017  is at Annexure-I.
- (b) & (C) The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation assists the States technically and financially in providing safe drinking water through the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Up to 67% fund allocated to the States can  be  utilized  for  coverage  of  water  quality  affected  habitations  and  for  tackling water  quality  problems  in  rural  areas  of  the  country  with  priority  to  arsenic  and fluoride  affected  habitation.  In  addition  to  this,  Government  of  India  provides  3% NRDWP  funds  on  100%  Central  assistance  basis  to  States for water  quality monitoring  and  surveillance,  which  inter  alia  include  taking  up  works  relating  to setting up  of new  up-gradation  of  districts/sub district water  quality testing laboratories,  providing  chemicals  and  consumables  to  laboratories,  providing  field test kits/refills to Gram Panchayats etc. Further, up to 10% of NRDWP funds allocated to  States  could  be  utilized  for  sustainability  of  drinking  water  sources  through artificial recharge of ground water and other methods, which inter alia may also dilute

the  level  of  contamination  in  aquifers.  The  Ministry  has  informed  all  the  States  to commission  surface  water  based  piped  water  supply  schemes  in  all  water  quality affected habitations as a long term sustainable solution. However, since commissioning  of  Piped  Water  Supply  projects  may  take  3-5  years  and  the  rural people cannot be put to risk of consuming contaminated water during this period, all States have been advised to install community water purification plants, in reported arsenic and fluoride affected habitations by March 2017. This is being done as a short term  immediate  measure  for  providing  8-10  lpcd  (litre  per  capita  per  day)  of  safe water for drinking and cooking purpose only. On recommendation of NITI Aayog, the Government of India had released Rs 21.26 crore to Andra Pradesh  in March' 2016 to install  community  water  purification  plants  in  394  fluoride  affected  habitations  by March'  2017  so  that  8-10  litres  per  capita  per  day  of  safe  drinking  water  is  made available, for drinking and cooking purposes to the affected rural population.

An amount of Rs. 377.78 Crore, Rs. 170.05 Crore were released during 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively and Rs. 139.23 Crores as central assistance has been released to State of Andhra Pradesh during the Current Financial year.

The  Ministry  of  Drinking  Water  &  Sanitation  has  set  up  a  High  Level  Expert Committee in 2014 on Rural Drinking and Sanitation under chairmanship of Prof. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Ex. DG-CSIR, Government of India. So far, Expert Committee has held seven  meetings  and  suggested  30  technologies  for  drinking  water.    Recommended technologies which have been uploaded on the website of the Ministry for considering adoption  by  the  States. However,  adoption  of  the  technologies  suggested  by  Prof. Mashelkar Committee is only suggestive in nature for the States because choice of the technologies rests totally with the States.

To  assist  the  States  to  get  familiar  with  latest  technologies  pertaining  to  Rural Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation,  the  Ministry organized  series of exhibitions -Indovation-I in August 2014,  Indovation-II in January 2015 and Indovation-III in July 2015. These  events  were  followed up by presentations from different select organizations.

Annexure -I referred in the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 49 due for reply on 02/02/2017 District-wise Number of fluoride affected habitations in Andra Pradesh as reported by the States into IMIS of the Ministry as on 30/01/2017

| S.No.     | Name of the District   | Fluoride affected habitations   |
|-----------|------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1         | ANANTAPUR              | 209                             |
| 2         | CHITTOOR               | 21                              |
| 3         | EAST GODAVARI          | 3                               |
| 4         | GUNTUR                 | 19                              |
| 5         | KADAPA                 | 0                               |
| 6         | KRISHNA                | 6                               |
| 7         | KURNOOL                | 17                              |
| 8         | NELLORE                | 70                              |
| 9         | PRAKASAM               | 53                              |
| 10        | SRIKAKULAM             | 21                              |
| 11        | VISAKHAPATNAM          | 25                              |
| 12        | VIZIANAGARAM           | 0                               |
| 13        | WEST GODAVARI          | 3                               |
| Total 447 | Total 447              | Total 447                       |