Lok Sabha Question No. 3735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-09
Subject: Heavy Metals in Drinking Water
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: SADHU SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3735 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09/08/2018

## Heavy Metals in Drinking Water

## †3735 Prof. Sadhu Singh:

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

- (a)  whether  about  2,139  villages  have  more  than  the  permissible  levels  of  heavy  metals  in drinking water in Punjab;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Union Government thereto;
- (c) whether sanitation and drainage system in Punjab is also in very dismal condition and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government of Punjab has sought financial and other assistance from the Union Government under the Swachh Bharat Mission to improve the sanitation and drainage system in Punjab; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard, so far?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATEFOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a)&(b):    As  reported  by  Government  of  Punjab  into  the  online  Integrated  Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry, there are 1852 rural habitations which have  more than the permissible levels of heavy metals in drinking water sources.  District-wise details of heavy metal contamination reported are at Annexure 1.

The  Ministry  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments,  including  Punjab, technically  and  financially  through  the  centrally  sponsored  National  Rural  Drinking  Water Programme (NRDWP) to provide safe drinking water to rural population.  Water supply being state subject, it is the state government which plan and execute drinking water supply projects.

- (c) No, Madam.  Punjab has already achieved 100% sanitation coverage target and the State has been  declared  Open  Defecation  Free  (ODF).    Under  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Gramin) [SBM(G)], funds for Solid and Liquid Waste Management activities up to Rs. 7/12/15/20 lakh can  be  provided  for  Gram  Panchayats  having  up  to  150/300/500/more  than  500  households respectively.  Under  Liquid  Waste  Management,  activities  like  low  cost  drainage,  soakage channels/pits,  waste  stabilization  ponds  system,  reuse  of  waste  water  etc.  can  be  taken  up. Depending upon the amount of waste water generated, the State can choose the type of liquid waste management facility they wish to create. Liquid Waste Management activities have been taken-up in 6079 (47%) Gram Panchayats of Punjab.
- (d)  &  (e)  Government  of  Punjab  had  submitted  projected  funds  requirements  as  grants-in-aid from  the  Centre  in  their  Annual  Implementation  Plans  (AIP)  for  implementation  of  SBM(G). Against  these,  Ministry  of  Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation  had  released  funds  to  the  State considering  the  performance  of  the  State  and  the  overall  availability  of  funds  under  the programme, the details of which for the last three years are as under:

| Year    |   Fund released (Rs. in crore) |
|---------|--------------------------------|
| 2015-16 |                          38.7  |
| 2016-17 |                         197.02 |
| 2017-18 |                         283.47 |

## Annexure-I referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3735 due for reply on 09/08/2018

## District-wise details of rural habitations affected with Heavy Metal in drinking water in Punjab State as on 31/03/2018.

| S.No.   | District                   |   Habitations affected with Heavy Metal |
|---------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 1       | Amritsar                   |                                      19 |
| 2       | Barnala                    |                                      51 |
| 3       | Bathinda                   |                                      16 |
| 4       | Faridkot                   |                                       2 |
| 5       | Fatehgarh Sahib            |                                      22 |
| 6       | Fazilka                    |                                      68 |
| 7       | Firozepur                  |                                     209 |
| 8       | Gurdaspur                  |                                     128 |
| 9       | Hoshiarpur                 |                                      55 |
| 10      | Jalandhar                  |                                     171 |
| 11      | Kapurthala                 |                                      73 |
| 12      | Ludhiana                   |                                     151 |
| 13      | Mansa                      |                                       3 |
| 14      | Moga                       |                                     159 |
| 15      | Muktsar                    |                                       0 |
| 16      | Pathankot                  |                                     106 |
| 17      | Patiala                    |                                     298 |
| 18      | Rupnagar                   |                                     165 |
| 19      | S A S Nagar                |                                       9 |
| 20      | Sangrur                    |                                      59 |
| 21      | Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar |                                      51 |
| 22      | Tarn Taran                 |                                      37 |
|         | Total                      |                                    1852 |