Lok Sabha Question No. 881 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Solar based Water Schemes
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Smt. Dhanorkar Pratibha Suresh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 881

ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025

## SOLAR BASED WATER SCHEMES

## †881. SMT. DHANORKAR PRATIBHA SURESH

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken note that 47 household beneficiaries are still facing problem in getting drinking water despite the installation of solar energy-based pumps in Bedya Basti of Katoda village in Arni Taluka of Yavatmal district of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) the measures taken / being taken by the Government for the successful implementation of such solar-based water schemes;
- (c) whether the Government has a list of villages like Katoda (Taluka Arni, District Yavatmal) facing acute shortage of drinking water despite  having approved households, leading to health risks, if so, the details thereof and the action taken / being taken by the Government in this regard; and

(d)  the  initiatives  taken /  likely  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  a  reserve  system  or immediate service for solar energy pumps in such a situation where construction of houses is at halt due to non-availability of drinking water?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a),  (b)  &  (d)        Drinking  water  is  a  State  subject.  The  power  to  plan,  design,  approve  and implement  drinking  water  supply  schemes/projects  including  solar  schemes  lies  with  State Government. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

As per Operational Guidelines for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, following provisions have been made regarding use of renewable energy for water supply in villages by States/ UTs:

- i.)  explore  for  installation  of  solar  energy  powered  standalone  water  supply  system  in scattered/ isolated/ tribal/ hilly villages;
- ii.)  preferably  use  solar  power  pumping  arrangements  for  single  village  water  supply schemes; and
- iii.) explore for conjunctive use of solar power based pumping system in multi-village water supply schemes.

As informed by state government of Maharashtra, 47 households in Pardhibeda (Kathoda) village, situated in Taluka Arni, District Yavatmal, is currently served by an existing solar-powered dual pump water supply scheme, which was completed in April 2022. The scheme is equipped with a 1 HP solar pump (with a discharge capacity of approximately 1000 LPH) and a 1000-liter capacity LDPE storage  tank.  The  Gram  panchayat  actively  monitors  the  operation  of  this  scheme  and undertakes  necessary  maintenance  and  repair  works  as  and  when  required,  ensuring  continued access to water for the residents.

(c)  Significant progress has been made in the Yavatmal district since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), towards enhancing access to tap water to rural households. At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 64,926 (~12.42%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States, around 3.58 lakh additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 20.07.2025, out of 5.23 lakh rural households in the Yavatmal district, more than 4.23 lakh (81.06%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

The district-wise details of tap connections in Maharashtra is in public domain and may be accessed at below link:

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMState.aspx

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