Lok Sabha Question No. 279 (STARRED), answered on 2022-08-04
Subject: Quality of Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK  SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *279

## ANSWERED ON 04.08.2022

## QUALITY OF WATER

## *279. MS. CHANDRANI MURMU:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to determine the quality of drinking water and water used for farming in mining and industrial areas particularly in Odisha;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to tackle possible health hazards due to contaminated water being used for drinking and farming;
- (d) whether any legislation exists which regulates industries from drawing water from open sources like river and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the permissible limit of quantity of water that can be drawn from a river per day?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO *279 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.08.2022 REGARDING QUALITY OF WATER.

(a) to (c) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data on a regional scale during various scientific studies and ground water quality monitoring throughout the country. These studies  indicate  the  occurrence  of  Fluoride,  Arsenic,  Nitrate,  Iron  and  Heavy  Metals  beyond  the  BIS permissible limits in isolated pockets in various parts of the country.

Odisha State Pollution Control Board has informed that it regularly monitors the water quality of major rivers flowing in mining and industrial areas of the State at 41 number of stations on monthly basis. The Board also monitors the ground water quality in mining and industrial areas at 32 stations on half yearly basis [Pre-monsoon (April/May) and post monsoon (October)]. The water quality is being assessed with respect to the tolerance limits specified for Class C rivers [Drinking water with conventional treatment and after disinfection, IS:2296(1982)]. The ground water quality is being assessed with respect to the drinking water specification as per IS:10500(2012). All industries and mines have been stipulated with conditions in their Consent Order to adopt adequate water pollution control measures in order to prevent contamination of surface and ground water.

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programmes.

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

Under  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  as  per  existing  guidelines,  IS:10500  is  to  be  adopted  for  ensuring  safe drinking water supply and States/UTs have been advised to carry out testing of drinking water sources once in year for chemical and physical parameters, and twice in a year for bacteriological parameters. To enable States/ UTs to test water samples for water quality, and for sample collection, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water sources, an online JJM - Water Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed, which is available in public domain.

Government of India enacted The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and various provisions under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for protection of water bodies. The Central & State Pollution Control Boards are implementing the provisions of both The Water (Prevention and Control of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  &  The  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  to  prevent  and  control  pollution  of aquatic  resources.  Regulation  of  industrial  pollution  is  implemented  through  various  provisions  of  The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 under consent mechanism by the respective State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and Pollution Control Committee (PCC).

Under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) the objective is to bring the river water quality of the identified river stretches to outdoor bathing standard. NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 35 rivers in 78 towns spread over  16  States  in  the  country  with  the  project  sanctioned  cost  of Rs. 6,142 crore, and inter alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2,745.70 million liters per day (mld) has been created. An amount of Rs. 2,799 crore has been released to various States/UT's Governments as Central share for implementation of various pollution abatement schemes under NRCP.

Some steps taken by the Central Government for facilitating ground water quality improvement/remediation of contamination in the country are:

-  Data  on  ground  water  quality  available  with  CGWB  are  being  shared  with  concerned  State Governments for taking necessary remedial measures.
-  CGWB constructs  wells  for  Exploration  of  Ground  Water.  Successful  contamination-free  wells  are handed over to the State Governments for gainful utilization.
-  Under the  National  Aquifer  Mapping  Programme  (NAQUIM)  of  CGWB,  special  attention  is  being given  to  the  aspect  of  ground  water  quality  including  contamination  by  toxic  substances  such  as Arsenic in ground water.
-  Awareness generation  programs/workshop  on  various  aspects  of  ground  water  including  preventing ground  water  pollution  and  safe  use  of  contaminated  water  are  being  conducted  by  CGWB periodically.
-  Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has issued guidelines for  control  and  regulation  of  groundwater  extraction  with  pan-India  applicability  notified  on  24 September,  2020.  The  guidelines  include  clauses  on  'Measures  to  be  adopted  to  ensure  prevention from pollution in the plant premises of polluting industries/projects'.

(d) & (e) Proposals for drawing of water by industries from open source like river, as and when received in Central Water Commission, are examined considering the net water availability at the point of drawal and share  of  the  concerned  basin  States  in  the  water  of  the  concerned  river  basin  from  where  the  water  is proposed to be drawn by the industries. Shares of the basin States in a river basin are determined either by agreement among basin States or by decision of the River Water Disputes Tribunal, if any.

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