Lok Sabha Question No. 3526 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Streamlining of Drinking Water System
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: M. I. SHANAVAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3526 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2017

## Streamlining of Drinking Water System

## 3526. SHRI  M.I.  SHANAVAS:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to streamline the system of providing drinking water across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any system has been evolved to complete the pending projects
- aimed at improving the availability of drinking water in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  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 & financial  assistance  through  the  centrally  sponsored  National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme (NRDWP).  The  State  Governments  have  been  empowered  to  plan,  design,  execute  and  operate schemes for providing clean drinking water after getting the same approved by the State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee (SLSSC).

Up to 67% fund allocated to the states under NRDWP can be utilized for coverage of water quality affected habitations and for tackling water quality problems. Further, 5% of the NRDWP funds are  earmarked  for  Water  Quality  and  allocated  to  those  states  with  habitations  affected  by  excess chemical  contamination  and  with  high  priority  districts  affected  by  Japanese  Encephalitis  /  Acute Encephalitis  Syndrome.  In  addition  to  this,  3%  NRDWP  fund  is  also  provided  for  water  quality monitoring & surveillance, which inter alia include taking up works relating to setting up of new / upgradation of districts / sub-district water quality testing laboratories, providing  chemicals  & consumables to laboratories, providing field test kits / refills to Gram Panchayats etc. Further, up to 10% of NRDWP funds allocated to states could be utilized for sustainability of drinking water sources through artificial  recharge  of  ground  water  and  other  methods,  which  inter  alia  may  also  dilute  the level of contamination in aquifers.

(b) to (d) Currently the focus of the Ministry is on the completion of all ongoing schemes. The States have been directed to complete the ongoing schemes first according priority as under:-

- a) > 75 physically completed

b) > 50% to < 75% physically completed

- c) > 25% to < 50% physically completed

For  effective  monitoring  of  the  ongoing  schemes,  the  States  have  been  directed  to  enter  the  %  of physical progress of every scheme which is to be milestone based for piped water supply schemes on the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of the Ministry. The completion of all schemes as per the above order would result in improving the availability of drinking water.