Lok Sabha Question No. 3841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: Progress of NRDWP
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: BHARATENDRA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3841 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2019

## Progress of NRDWP

## 3841. KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

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

- (a)  whether the  Government  can provide data/information  regarding  the progress of  the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP);
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to address the audit report of the CAG of poor execution of works and weak contract management; and
- (c) whether any measures have been taken to address reports of contamination of drinking water as under the programme?

## ANSWER

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

(a) NRDWP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which this Ministry provides technical and  financial  assistance  to  State  Government  for  providing  safe  drinking  water  in  rural areas. Under NRDWP,coverage of safe drinking water in rural areas is maintained in terms of Fully Covered habitations (i.e. getting more than 40 litre per capita per day (lpcd) safe drinking water), Partially Covered habitations (i.e. getting less than 40 lpcd safe drinking water) and Quality Affected habitations (i.e. containing chemical contaminant). As reported by States on Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), 80.42% rural habitations are  Fully  Covered, 16.00% rural habitations are Partially Covered and 3.58% habitations are getting water from sources which contain at least one chemical contaminant. Further, 55.14% ruralpopulation are covered with piped water supply through Public Stand Post and out ofwhich 17.93% rural households have been provided with tap connection.

(b) Rural Water Supply is a State subject. State Governments are responsible for planning, designing and execution of drinking water supply schemes as well as management of all contracts  /  schemes.  However,  to  improve  the  implementation of  NRDWP, Ministry  has restructured it  in  November 2017  by making it competitive,  result oriented  and outcome based. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India 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 action 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 following up with states on this subject.

c) 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  and  financial  assistance  through  the  centrally  sponsored scheme National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme (NRDWP).  It  is  the  State  Governments who  plan,  design,  approve,  execute,  operate  &  maintain  the  schemes  for  providing  safe drinking water to rural population. The funds provided to the States under NRDWP can be utilized for taking up schemes in water quality affected areas on priority.

To  deal  with  arsenic  and  fluoride  contamination,  with  the  recommendation  of  National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Government of India had released Rs. 1,000 crore  in  March  2016  for  commissioning  of  Community  Water  Purification  Plants  (CWPPs) and last mile connectivity of piped water supply schemes.

In  addition,  the  Ministry  had  launched  National  Water  Quality  Sub-Mission  (NWQSM)  on 22.03.17 to provide safe drinking water to 27,544 arsenic / fluoride affected rural habitations in a span of 4 years, subject to availability of funds.