Lok Sabha Question No. 1754 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-28
Subject: Restructuring of NRDWP
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, NINONG ERING, PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1754

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2017

## Restructuring of NRDWP

## 1754. SHRI HARISH MEENA, SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA, SHRI NINONG ERING, SHRI PARVESHSAHIB SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Union Government has recently  restructured  the  National  Rural Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP)  or  proposes  to  review  and  adopt changes in Drinking Water Management Policy and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the goal of increasing the coverage of sustainable piped water supply to the rural population across the country has since been achieved during the last three years;
- (c)   if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  extent  to  which  the  restructuring  of  the NRDWP will help in covering  the entire  rural  population  to  get  safe  piped drinking water across the country;
- (d)   the resultant change in the estimated costs of the NRDWP and the time-frame for implementation of the same;
- (e)   the  extent  of  visible  changes  that  have  been  seen  with  the  implementation done  so  far  and  the  extent  of  anticipated  change  with  the  restructured programme; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to ensure supply of safe drinking water to every household in rural areas?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION (SHRI S S AHLUWALIA)

- a) Yes Madam. This  Ministry  has  restructured  National  Rural  Drinking  Water Program (NRDWP) intendingto make it competitive, outcome based and result oriented and mainly for piped water supply schemes.

Now 10% Weightage for making allocation of funds to States / UTs will be based  on  Population  residing  in  habitations  having  affected  by  chemical contaminants.

Under  restructured  NRDWP,  release  of  fund  under  various  components  is  as under:

- 50 % of allocation will be released as first instalment as per approved criteria of allocation of funds to the States / UTs.
- 25% Sustainability (Functionality) component of allocation will be released on the basis of a third party evaluationstudy of completed piped water supply schemes in States / UTs.
- 25  %  (in  reimbursement  cum  competition  mode)of  allocation  will  be released after complete utilisation of available central fund and pre-financing & utilization of  this part of allocation along with state matching share by the States / UTs within a time frame.

(b) Yes  Madam.  As  per  strategic  plan  for  the  rural  drinking  water  sector  for providing Piped Water Supply (PWS) to rural population, goal was to provide 50 % of rural population with PWS by 2017 which has been achieved. As per information entered  by  States  on  Integrated  Management  Information  System  (IMIS)  of  the Ministry,  rural  population  getting  PWS  during  2014-15  was  50.90%  which  has increased to 54.98 % as on 26.12.2017.

(c) After  the  restructuring  of  the  NRDWP,  States  have  been  asked  to  focus mainly on  Piped  Water  Supply schemes  with  88%  of  total fund available exclusively for the same. With the availability of more funds, States can cover more habitations under NRDWP with piped water supply.

(d) Rural  Drinking  Water  Supply  is  a  State  subject.  This  Ministry  provides technical and financial assistance to supplement the efforts of States to provide safe drinking water in rural areas. Moreover, as per the recommendation of 14 th Finance Commission, there has been an  enhanced devolution of  funds  to  the  States  from 32% to 42%, part of which can be used in strengthening the rural drinking water supply systems by the states. There is also direct funding of substantial amount to rural local bodies for basic services including water supply. Further, the states have also been advised to pool more funds from domestic / external financial agencies. The medium term budget outlay for the NRDWP for this year and next two years is as under:

| Year    |   Central share (in Rs. crore) |
|---------|--------------------------------|
| 2017-18 |                           6050 |
| 2018-19 |                           6655 |
| 2019-20 |                           7320 |

(e) As per information entered by States on IMIS, Fully covered habitations (i.e. getting more than 40 litre per capita per day safe drinking water) has increased from 73.66%  (as  on  01.04.2014)  to  77.42%  (as  on  26.12.2017).  Further,  Coverage  of population  with  PWS  has  increased  from  50.90%  (2014-15)  to  54.98  %  (as  on 26.12.2017).  Under  restructured  NRDWP  guidelines, States with  competitive  and functionality oriented approach, will now focus more on providing safe pipe water supply  and  ensuring  the  functionality  of  completed  schemes  which  will  help  in achieving ultimate goal.

(f) This  Ministry  has  directed  States  to  focus  more  on  Piped  Water  Supply schemes. States have also been directed to focus onearly completion of the schemes which  are  in  advanced  stage  of  completion.  While  doing  so,  this  Ministry  has directed the States that priority is to be accorded to the schemes meant for Arsenic / Fluoride affected habitation and Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages. Further, the states have also been advised to pool more funds from their own resources / loan from external / domestic financial agencies. With this increased devolution of funds, States/UTs can take up more schemes and achieve its ultimate goal.