Lok Sabha Question No. 2059 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-27
Subject: Fluoride and Arsenic Contamination
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH, P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2059 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/07/2017

## Fluoride and Arsenic Contamination

## 2059. SHRI M.B. RAJESH: SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

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

- (a) the details of the districts affected due to fluoride and arsenic contamination in drinking water in the State of Kerala;
- (b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide safe drinking water in the State of Kerala; and
- (c) whether the Government is providing any special assistance to the State in this regard and if so, the details thereof and the targets fixed therefor?

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

- (a) District  wise  number  of  habitations  affected  by  fluoride  and  arsenic  in  Kerala State  as  reported  by  the  Government  of  Kerala  into  Integrated  Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry as 24 th  July, 2017 is at Annexure.
- (b) & (c) Rural drinking water supply is a state subject.  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 National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). It is the State Governments who plan, design, approve, execute, operate & maintain schemes for providing clean drinking water. Up to 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.

All  the States including Kerala have been asked to focus on providing piped  water  supply  schemes  from  safe  and  perennial  surface  water  source  in water  quality  affected  habitations.  As  immediate  measures,  Government  of Kerala has been provided an amount of Rs. 19.73 Crores in Mar 2016 as 100% grant by Government of India on the recommendation of  NITIAayog to provide 8-10  litres  per  capita  per  day  of  safe  drinking  water  in  95  fluoride  affected habitations for drinking and cooking purposes, as short term measures through Community Water Purification Plants.

In addition to this, the Ministry has launched a National Water Quality Sub-Mission on 22 nd  March 2017 to provide safe drinking water to about 28,000 arsenic  /  fluoride  affected  habitations  in  the  country.During  February-March 2017, under Sub-Mission programme funds to the tune of Rs2.31 crore has been released to Government of Kerala for completing 04 ongoing piped water supply schemes.  During  the  current  financial  year  2017-18  under  National  Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Rs. 1000 Crore has been earmarked for National Water Quality Sub-Mission on arsenic & fluoride. As on 24 th  July, 2017 Government  of  Kerala  has  not  submitted  any  proposal  under  National  Water Quality Sub-Mission.

Annexure: referred in the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2059 due for reply on 27/07/2017

District wise number of habitations affected by fluoride and arsenic in Kerala State as reported by the Government of Kerala into Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry as 24 th  July, 2017

| S.    | Nameofthe District   | Number of Habitations   | Number of Habitations   |
|-------|----------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| No.   |                      | Fluoride                | Arsenic                 |
| 1     | ALAPPUZHA            | -                       | -                       |
| 2     | ERNAKULAM            | -                       | -                       |
| 3     | IDUKKI               | 1                       | -                       |
| 4     | KANNUR               | -                       | -                       |
| 5     | KASARAGOD            | -                       | -                       |
| 6     | KOLLAM               | -                       | -                       |
| 7     | KOTTAYAM             | -                       | -                       |
| 8     | KOZHIKODE            | -                       | -                       |
| 9     | MALAPPURAM           | -                       | -                       |
| 10    | PALAKKAD             | 33                      | -                       |
| 11    | PATHANAMTHITTA       | -                       | -                       |
| 12    | THIRUVANANTHAPURAM   | -                       | -                       |
| 13    | THRISSUR             | -                       | -                       |
| 14    | WAYANAD              | -                       | -                       |
| Total | Total                | 34                      | -                       |