Lok Sabha Question No. 687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-22
Subject: Problems due to Arsenic Contamination of Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 687

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2021

## PROBLEMS DUE TO ARSENIC CONTAMINATION OF WATER

## †687. SHRIMATI  RATHVA GITABEN VAJESING BHAI :

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to resolve the problem of drinking water in States where Arsenic level is more than the limit set by Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS);

(b) whether these Arsenic elements affect local crops and their quality when it enters the food  chain  and  if  so,  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  is  committed  to  resolve  this problem; and

(c) whether  local  residents  and  cattle  are  afflicted  with  various  kinds  of  diseases  due  to consumption  of  Arsenic  water  and  if  so,  the  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to resolve this problem?

## ANSWER

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

(a) To provide potable tap water supply to every rural household in the country by 2024, Government of India  in  partnership  with  States  is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM). Under JJM, while planning water supply schemes to provide tap water to rural households, priority is given to quality-affected habitations including habitations with Arsenic contamination in drinking water sources.

While  allocating  the  funds  to  States/  UTs  in  a  particular  financial  year,  10%  weightage  is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants as on 31 st March of the preceding financial year.

Since, planning, implementation and commissioning of piped water supply schemes 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)  in  such  habitations,  to provide potable water to every household at the rate of 8-10 litre per capita per day (lpcd) to meet drinking and cooking requirements.

In March, 2017, in the whole country, 27,544 habitations were identified with Arsenic and Fluoride contamination  in  drinking  water  sources  and  to  make  provision  of potable piped water supply in these habitations on priority, National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) was  launched.  As  reported  by  States,  except  928,  in  all  of  these  habitations, potable drinking water has become available.

(b)  &  (c)  The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  an  organization  under  the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has stated that distribution of Arsenic content in plant parts  generally followed the  order:  root>  stem>leaf >economic produce.  In  general, fruit/grain of plants showed less accumulation of Arsenic compared to root, stem and leaf.

To minimize the effect of Arsenic in soil-plant system, some of remedial measures inter alia includes  use  of  less  water  demanding  crops,  growing  of  Arsenic  tolerant  rice  varieties, preference to growing non-edible and leguminous crops during dry season, conjunctive use of ground & surface water and recharge of ground water with rain water harvesting, etc.

Arsenic poisoning may occur in domestic animals especially those cattle consuming Arsenic contaminated water and feed on fodder, which is usually sprayed with herbicides, pesticides and defoliants containing Arsenic in highly soluble form.

As informed by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), an organization under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, long-term exposure to Arsenic can lead to Arsenicosis in humans. With regard to Arsenic mitigation, a number of steps have been taken inter alia which includes the following:

- i.) Guidelines on Detection, Prevention and Management of Arsenicosis in India have been prepared and shared with affected States;
- ii.) Efforts  have  been  made  to  spread  awareness  among  the  affected  community  regarding problem due to water contamination through IEC material such as radio spots and printed materials sent to the seven Arsenic affected States; and
- iii.) The  Diagnosis  and  Treatment  of  Arsenicosis  is  being  done  in  the  existing  Health infrastructure  in  the  States  such  as  Sub-centres,  PHC,  CHC,  District.  Hospital,  Medical Colleges etc.

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