Lok Sabha Question No. 2671 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-27
Subject: Arsenic and Fluoride Contaminated Water
Ministry: DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
Asked by: VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2671 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/12/2018

## Arsenic and Fluoride Contaminated Water

## †2671 SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION be pleased to state: (a)  the  details  of  such  States  across  the  country  which  have  been  affected  by  the presence of fluoride and arsenic substances in drinking water; (b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide pure drinking water to such States including Jharkhand and Bihar; (c) whether the Government is providing any special assistance to these States for the purpose; (d) if so, the details thereof; and

- (e) the targets fixed for these States/ UTs?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATEFOR MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION (SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a) : State-wise number of fluoride and arsenic affected habitations as reported by the states in Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of this Ministry, as on 20.12.2018 is at Annexure .

- (b) to (e) : 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. During  2018-19  (till  20.12.2018),  Rs.  3,222.92 Crore has been released to States, of which funds released to Bihar and Jharkhand are Rs. 160.35 Crore and Rs.66.48 Crore respectively.

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.  Out  of  which,  Rs.  22.83  Crore  has  been  released  to  Bihar  and  Rs.  1.50 Crore has been released to Jharkhand states.

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. Under NWQSM, Rs. 171.96 Crore has been released to Bihar and Rs. 38.72 Crore has been released to Jharkhand states.

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Annexure: referred in the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2671 due for reply on 27/12/2018

State-wise number of fluoride and arsenic affected habitations as reported by the states in Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of this Ministry, as on 20.12.2018

| S. No.   | State          | Nos. of affected habitations   | Nos. of affected habitations   |
|----------|----------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|          |                | Fluoride                       | Arsenic                        |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh | 319                            | 0                              |
| 2        | Assam          | 262                            | 4,327                          |
| 3        | Bihar          | 783                            | 815                            |
| 4        | Chhattisgarh   | 282                            | 0                              |
| 5        | Haryana        | 103                            | 0                              |
| 6        | Jammu &Kashmir | 4                              | 0                              |
| 7        | Jharkhand      | 198                            | 19                             |
| 8        | Karnataka      | 460                            | 3                              |
| 9        | Kerala         | 32                             | 0                              |
| 10       | Madhya Pradesh | 140                            | 0                              |
| 11       | Maharashtra    | 63                             | 0                              |
| 12       | Odisha         | 98                             | 0                              |
| 13       | Punjab         | 299                            | 652                            |
| 14       | Rajasthan      | 5,176                          | 0                              |
| 15       | Uttar Pradesh  | 178                            | 745                            |
| 16       | West Bengal    | 1,263                          | 9,250                          |
| Total    | Total          | 9,660                          | 15,811                         |