Lok Sabha Question No. 1204 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-09
Subject: Drought Affected Areas
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1204 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2017

## Drought Affected Areas

## 1204. KUMARI  SHOBHA KARANDLAJE  :

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

- (a) whether  drought  affected  districts/ areas of several States including Jharkhand and Karnataka  are  facing  drinking  water crisis due to deficient monsoon and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Union Government for finding solution to drinking water scarcity  in  these  districts/areas  along  with  the  funds  allocated  on  priority  basis  to these affected areas during each of the last three   years   and   the   current   year, State/UT-wise;
- (c)  whether  representatives  of  the Ministry  have  visited  many  drought affected States and assessed drinking water scarcity  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and the action taken based on the outcome of such  visits,  State/UT-wise;  and
- (d)  the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Union    Government    to    find    a    permanent solution  to  drinking  water  scarcity  in  the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

- (a) to (c) Yes madam. As per the report of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a total of 155 districts of the country including 03 districts of Jharkhand and 05 districts of  Karnataka  State  have  received  less  than  75%  of  the  long  period  average  rainfall during the period 01.06.2016 to 30.09.2016. Accordingly, the Ministry has advised all States / UTs on 04.11.2016 for taking following immediate measures for the affected State detailed as under:-
- a. Hiring of diesel generator sets, pumps
- b.  Hiring  of  water  tankers  for  emergency  water  supply  to  affected  sites  subject  to recoupment from future releases under calamity funds
- c.  Procurement  of  sodium  hypochlorite,  halogen  tablets,  bleaching  powder  for  proper disinfection
- d.  Hiring  of  sufficient  vehicles  fitted  with  water  treatment  plants  to  provide  onsite  safe drinking water
- e.  Keeping  adequate  stock  of  spare  parts  that  may  be  required  for  urgent  repair  and restoration works both for piped water supply schemes and hand pumps (tube wells)
- f. Raising platforms of hand pumps
- g. Procurement of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) water tanks for supply of drinking water in relief  camps  subject  to  recoupment  from  future  releases  under  National  Disaster Response Fund / State Disaster Response Fund.

After declaration of drought in their States, a memorandum is submitted by the States to the Central Government seeking assistance for drought relief which generally includes funds for drinking water also. The Central Government constitutes an Inter-Ministerial Central  Team  (IMCT)  including  officials  from  this  Ministry  to  visit  the  State  for  on spot assessment of drought and based on their report, the High Level Committee (HLC) in the Ministry of Home Affairs decides the quantum of assistance to be given to these States for different components including drinking water supply. Till January 2017, this Ministry  has  not  received  any  direction  in  this  regard  for  release  of  fund  to  drought affected State under Calamity component of National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).

Under NRDWP, 25% of the funds is earmarked to States as flexi funds. State can also use  this  fund  to  tide  over  drought  situation.  Further,  States  can  also  utilize  15%  of Operation  &  Maintenance  funds  available  under  NRDWP  to  meet  the  emergent requirement for drinking water mitigation activities in the event of drought.

- (d)  As  a  long  term  solution,  this  Ministry  has  directed  the  States  to  cover  the  rural households with piped water supply.  This  Ministry  has  prepared  a  Strategic  Plan  for providing drinking water supply in rural areas of the country for the period 2011-2022. By 2022, the goal  is  to  cover  90%  of  rural  households  with  piped  water  supply.  To achieve this, the States have been advised to pool more funds from State plan in view of the  enhanced  devolution  of  funds  under  the  14 th Finance  Commission and to arrange external assistance or loan from borrowing agencies over and above the funding from the Ministry under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).