Lok Sabha Question No. 2717 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-27
Subject: Extent of Access to Safe Drinking Water
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI, ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2717 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2018

## Extent of Access to Safe Drinking Water

## 2717. SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

## SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

Will the Minister of DRINKINGWATER AND SANITATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether more than 163 million Indians do not have access to safe drinking water, and the national rural drinking water programme despite spending 90 percent of 89,956 crore rupees over five years upto 2017, could not achieve its targets according to a recent report from the Government auditor and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) the current status of India's progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all; and
- (c)  the details of  the  Sustainable  Development Goal 6 (SDG-6) of the United Nation's Agenda  2030  to  achieve  universal  and  equitable  access  to  safe  and  affordable drinking water for all?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Rural drinking water supply is a state subject and this Ministry provides assistance to State government for improving the coverage of safe drinking water in rural areas. As  reported  by  States  on  Integrated  Management  Information  System  (IMIS)  of  the Ministry,  out of 91.62  crore  rural  population,  4.08  crore  rural populations  are  getting less  than  40  litre  per  capita  per  day  (lpcd)  safe  drinking  water.The  report  of  the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on performance audit of NRDWP was shared with the states on 21st August 2018, and the states were asked to take necessary corrective  and  preventive  measures  on  the  points  raised  in  the  report  and  submit  an action taken report to MDWS. Further, a reminder was sent to states on 8th November 2018 for the same. MDWS is continuously following up with states on this subject.

This  Ministry  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  States  for  improving  the coverage of safe drinking water in rural areas in line with the commitment made by the country  in  the  international  forum  while  agreeing  for  UN  Sustainable  Development

Goal (SDG)-2030.The Ministry has recently restructured  the National  Rural  Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to make it more competitive and result oriented.Ministry of  Finance,  Govt  of  India  releases  grants  to  the  States  for  Gram  Panchayats  on  the recommendations made by 14th Finance Commission (F.C.) for various specified basic services which includes water supply. Further, on 14th Finance Commission, enhanced devolution of  funds (from 32%  to 42%)  to  States  has been made  and  the states  have been advised by this Ministry to utilize the same in drinking water supply in rural areas. These  funds  can  be  used  for  creation  of  new  schemes  as  well  of  O&M  of  existing schemes.

(b)  &  (c)  The  details  of  the  Sustainable  Development  Goal 6  (SDG-6) of  the  United Nation's Agenda 2030 are as under:

- o SDG Target # 6[Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all], Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to  safe  and  affordable  drinking  water  for  ALL,  Indicator  for  Drinking  Water 6.1.1: Percentage of population using safely managed drinking water services

Regarding status, as reported by States as on 26.12.2018, 80.42% rural habitations are getting more than 40 litre per capita per day (lpcd) safe drinking water. 55.14% of rural population is getting piped water supply. 17.93% of rural household has tap connection.