Lok Sabha Question No. 1585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-24
Subject: Water Management
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, DHARMENDRA YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1585 ANSWERED ON 24.11.2016

## WATER MANAGEMENT

1585. SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the quality of water is the most important aspect seeking attention both at Government as well as public level and if so, the steps taken by the Government essentially to sensitise to the public about the quality of water;

(b) whether the quality of water management in the country has necessarily involved certain regulatory measures as provided in the Water Act, 1974 and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether the Government has launched most notable activities for the improvement of water supply throughout the country and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  it  is  difficult  to  assess  the  impact  of  programmes  such  as  Ganga  Action  Plan  (GAP)  on improvement in water quality and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to remove these difficulties?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (Dr. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a)  The quality of water is central to all of the roles that water plays in our lives. Central Ground Water Board  (CGWB)  under  Ministry  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga  Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR)  has  taken  various  steps  like  organizing  training  programmes,  workshops,  painting competitions, printing pamphlets and brochures to sensitize public on ground water quality. 5%  funds under  National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP)  are  earmarked  by  Ministry  of  Drinking Water and Sanitation for support activities which include funds for awareness generation and capacity building at various levels.

(b) Yes, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has taken following actions for  monitoring to prevent and control water pollution :

- Effluent  standards  for  water  polluting  industries  have  been  notified  considering  the  recipient environment.

- State  Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCB)  have  been  directed  under  Section  18(1)b  of  the  Water (Prevention  &  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  to  direct  concerned  agencies  in  the  state/UT  to develop  infrastructure  for  sewage  treatment  and  to  formulate  action  plan  for  restoration  of identified polluted river stretches.
- Urban centers discharging wastewater in aquatic resources and having no treatment or inadequate facilities have been identified and concerned municipal corporations have been given directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act,1986 for treatment and utilization of sewage for restoration of water quality of rivers.
- With respect to industrial effluents,  consent  management  for  compliance  of standards is  being enforced  by  SPCBs/Pollution  Control  Committees  (PCC)  to  improve  the  water  quality  of  the rivers.

(c) Several measures have been taken  by the Central Government for the purpose of ensuring water supply in  the  country  by  advocating  conservation,  promotion  and  protection  of  water,  rain  water  harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures such as:-

- Full  coverage  of  13,06,580  habitations;  and  partial  coverage  of  3,36,871  habitations  with potable source of drinking water, under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.
- Formulation of the National Water Policy (2012)
- Circulation  of  a  Model  Bill  to  all  the  States/UTs  to  enable  them  to  enact  suitable  ground water legislation for its regulation and development. So far, 15 States/UTs have adopted and implemented  the  ground  water  legislation  on  the  lines  of  Model  bill.30  States/UTs  have made  rain  water  harvesting  mandatory  by  enacting  laws  or  by  formulating  rules  & regulations or by including provisions in building bye-laws or through suitable Government Orders.
- Launching of PradhanMantriKrishiSinchayeeYojana (PMKSY)during 2015-16.
- Launching ofJalKrantiAbhiyan (2015-16 to 2017-18).
- Undertaking a scheme on Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of water bodies (since 2008).
- Preparation  of  a  conceptual  document  entitled  'Master  Plan  for  Artificial  Recharge  to Ground Water in India' during 2013, to assist the States in Groundwater recharge.
- Convergence with MGNREGA for recharge of over-exploited blocks.
- Taking up Aquifer Mapping and Management programme during XII Plan by CGWB, to facilitate community management of aquifers.
- Launching 'Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation' (AMRUT) in 2015.

(d) & (e) CPCB is monitoring water quality of River Ganga at 57 locations from Gangotri to Diamond Harbour. 113 Real-time Water Quality Monitoring Stations (RTWQMS) are proposed to be installed along the  main  stem  of  river  Ganga  to  assess  the  impact  of  programs  such  as  Ganga  Action  Plan  on improvement of water quality by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

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