Lok Sabha Question No. 1648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Involvement of Private Companies in Water Supply
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1648 ANSWERED ON 05.12.2024

## INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE COMPANIES IN WATER SUPPLY

## 1648.  SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)   the  specific  reasons  to  involve  private  companies  in  water  supply  in  spite  of  being  the responsibility of the States;
- (b)  the reasons for increasing the role of private companies in water storage, treatment and supply and the measures taken/being taken by the Government to regulate the same;
- (c)   the regulatory mechanism adopted by the Government to prevent escalating charges of water in many urban areas, particularly under private multinational companies; and
- (d)  whether the Government has received any complaints against the private companies and if so, the number of complaints, nature of the grievance along with the action taken/being taken by the Government during the last five years and the current year?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal to make provision of potable water to every rural household of the country, through functional tap water connection i.e. at a service level of 55 litre per capita per day (lpcd), of prescribed quality (BIS:10500), on regular and long-term basis.

Water  is  a  State  subject.  It  is  States  who  plan,  design,  approve  and  implement  drinking  water supply schemes. Government of India supplements the efforts of State Governments by providing financial and  technical assistance. State  Governments  may  involve  private  companies  for preparation  of  project  reports,  execution  of  the  projects,  etc.,  as  per  their  needs.  Moreover, complaints  on  irregularities  /  corruption/  grievances  received  so  far  have  been  forwarded  to  the respective State Government for taking necessary action.

Further,  Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  has  informed  that  it  has  taken  several  initiatives towards  sustainable  management  of  water  in  urban  areas  through  implementation  of  National Missions  i.e.,  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT)  launched  in

2015  &  AMRUT  2.0  launched  in  2021.  AMRUT  focuses  on  development  of  basic  urban infrastructure especially water supply & access to tap connection to every household in 500 cities. Taking it forward, AMRUT 2.0 covers all the statutory towns of the country to ensure universal coverage of water supply & make cities 'water secure'. It envisages rejuvenation of water bodies, urban  aquifer  management,  promote  recycle  &  reuse  and  rainwater  harvesting  to  augment freshwater  resources.  For  water  availability  &  conservation,  so  far,  3,596  water  supply  projects worth Rs. 1,14,073.65 crore have been approved by Apex Committee at MoHUA.

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