Lok Sabha Question No. 90 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-27
Subject: Shortage of Drinking Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Kirti Vardhan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 90

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.06.2019

## Shortage of Drinking Water

## *90. SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry is aware of the fact that 600 millions of Indians face high to extreme water stress and about 2 lakh people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  the  Government  would  initiate  in  the near future to tackle the huge shortage of drinking water;

(c)  whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  provide  piped  water  to  every household in the country by 2024; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d) A Statement of reply is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 90 due for reply on 27.06.2019

(a) and (b) According to the NITI Aayog's ' Strategy for New India @75 ',   the per-capita water availability has decreased from 1816 cubic metre in 2001 to 1544 cubic metre in 2011. While water is a State Subject, the Central Government is working with the States to improve the water situation.

In rural areas, under centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP),  Central  Government  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  State  for improving the coverage of safe drinking water in rural habitations. As reported by states on Integrated  Management  Information  System  (IMIS)  of  Department  of  Drinking  Water  and Sanitation, out of total 17,25,808 rural habitations, 13,98,292 rural habitations (81.02%) are fully  covered.  Further,  out  of  total  rural  population  of  9182.58  lakhs,  7001.42  lakhs  rural population (76.25%) are getting more than 40 litres per capita per day safe drinking water.

In addition, the following measures to tackle the shortages of drinking water were taken/are being undertaken:

-  In order to sustain the drinking water sources, artificial recharge of groundwater and rain water harvesting are being implemented under various Schemes of Government of  India  i.e.  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY),  Mahatma  Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Integrated Watershed Management  Programme  (IWMP)  and  Command  Area  Development  &Water Management (CAD&WM) Programme etc.
-  The Ministry of Jal Shakti has been created in Government of India, integrating the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and  Ministry  of  Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation  with  an  aim  of  integrated  water resources  management  under  one  umbrella  so  that  the  issues  relating  to  water  are dealt with in a holistic manner.
-  Government of India is committed to work with the States on the current challenge of water scarcity faced in different parts of the country. An advisory has been issued by this  Department  of  Drinking  Water  and  Sanitation  on  20 th May  2019  to  States  on water  conservation  and  to  meet  the  drinking  water  requirements  of  rural  areas  on priority, during scarcity.
-  A meeting of the State Ministers of Water Resources and Water Supply was held on 11 th June 2019 Chaired by the Minister of Jal Shakti in which comprehensive review of the activities taken up by the States for addressing the concerns arising out of the current situation were reviewed.
-  The Hon'ble PM has personally addressed a letters to all sarpanches in the country motivating them to take up water conservation activities like de-silting and cleaning of water bodies, rain water harvesting etc with people participation.
- (c) & (d) The matter is under consideration of the Government.

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