Lok Sabha Question No. 771 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-21
Subject: Contamination of Drinking Water with Fluoride  and Arsenic
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 771

ANSWERED ON 21/07/2022

## CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER WITH FLUORIDE AND ARSENIC

## †771. SHRI VISHNU  DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of States across the country which have been affected due to contamination of drinking water with fluoride and arsenic elements;
- (b) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  safe  drinking  water  to  such States including Jharkhand; and
- (c) whether the Government is providing any special assistance to these States in this regard and if so, the details thereof along with the targets set for these States/UTs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c) To make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality  and  on  regular  &  long-term  basis  to  every  rural  household  in  the  country  by  2024, since August, 2019, Government of India in partnership with States/ UTs, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal. Under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs, 10%  weightage  is  given  to  the  population  residing  in  habitations  affected  by  chemical contaminants.

Under  JJM,  while  planning  for  potable  water  supply  to  household  through  tap  water connection, priority is to be given to quality-affected habitations. Since, planning, implementation  and  commissioning  of  piped  water  supply  scheme  based  on  a  safe  water source may take time, purely as an interim measure, States/ UTs have been advised to install community  water  purification  plants  (CWPPs)  especially  in  Arsenic  and  Fluoride  affected habitations to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8-10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet their drinking and cooking requirements.

As reported by States/ UTs, State-wise details of number of habitations affected with Arsenic and Fluoride contamination in drinking water sources and coverage planning for 2022-23 are annexed.

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Annex referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 771 due for reply on 21.07.2022 State-wise details of number  of  habitations affected with Arsenic and  Fluoride contamination in drinking water sources and coverage planning for 2022-23.

| S. No.   | State          | No. of Fluoride- affected habitations (as on 19.07.2022)   | No. of Fluoride- affected habitations (as on 19.07.2022)   | No. of Fluoride- affected habitations planned to cover by 2022-23   | No. of Arsenic- affected habitations (as on 19.07.2022)   | No. of Arsenic- affected habitations (as on 19.07.2022)   | No. of Arsenic- affected habitations planned to cover by PWS during   |
|----------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|          |                | Total                                                      | Already covered with CWPP                                  | PWS during                                                          | Total                                                     | Already covered with CWPP                                 | 2022-23                                                               |
| 1.       | Assam          | -                                                          | -                                                          | -                                                                   | 7                                                         | 7                                                         | 7                                                                     |
| 2.       | Bihar          | 1                                                          | -                                                          | 1                                                                   | 11                                                        | 2                                                         | 11                                                                    |
| 3.       | Chhattisgarh   | 168                                                        | -                                                          | 154                                                                 | -                                                         | -                                                         | -                                                                     |
| 4.       | Jharkhand      | 2                                                          | 2                                                          | 2                                                                   | -                                                         | -                                                         | -                                                                     |
| 5.       | Kerala         | 5                                                          | 5                                                          | 5                                                                   | -                                                         | -                                                         | -                                                                     |
| 6.       | Madhya Pradesh | 1                                                          | -                                                          | 1                                                                   | -                                                         | -                                                         | -                                                                     |
| 7.       | Maharashtra    | 3                                                          | -                                                          | 3                                                                   | -                                                         | -                                                         | -                                                                     |
| 8.       | Odisha         | 41                                                         | -                                                          | 41                                                                  | -                                                         | -                                                         | -                                                                     |
| 9.       | Punjab         | 182                                                        | 134                                                        | 180                                                                 | 556                                                       | 289                                                       | 556                                                                   |
| 10.      | Rajasthan      | 188                                                        | 153                                                        | 188                                                                 | -                                                         | -                                                         | -                                                                     |
| 11.      | Uttar Pradesh  | 38                                                         | 38                                                         | 38                                                                  | 107                                                       | 107                                                       | 107                                                                   |
| 12.      | West Bengal    | 42                                                         | 7                                                          | -                                                                   | 133                                                       | 48                                                        | 72                                                                    |
| Total    | Total          | 671                                                        | 339                                                        | 613                                                                 | 814                                                       | 453                                                       | 753                                                                   |