Lok Sabha Question No. 3188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Contaminated Water in Faridkot, Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3188

ANSWERED ON 18/12/2025

## CONTAMINATED WATER IN FARIDKOT, PUNJAB

## 3188. SHRI SARABJEET SINGH KHALSA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the total number of rural houses in Punjab, particularly in Faridkot Lok Sabha Constituency and the number of houses out of these with tap water connection/supply;

(b) the total number of habitations in Punjab and the number of habitations out of these affected by arsenic, fluoride and other contamination;

(c) whether the water level in Punjab is continuously going down and also becoming poisonous and if so, the details thereof along with the projects implemented/being implemented by the Government to prevent this; and

(d) the budget allocated and spent on these projects during the last five years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a)  As  reported  by  Government  of  Punjab  in  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  IMIS,  all  rural households i.e. 34.26 lakh (100%) rural households have been covered with potable tap water supply. All 2.23 lakh rural households of Faridkot Lok Sabha constituency have been covered with potable tap water supply.

(b) to (d) A total of 433 habitations in Punjab have reported water quality contamination with 119  habitations  reporting  fluoride  contamination  and  257  habitations  reporting  arsenic contamination.  The  number  of  water  contaminated  habitations  have  decreased  from  875 habitations in 2022 to 433 habitations at present.

The Union government is making continuous efforts to ensure safe drinking water to citizens. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) being implemented by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation in partnership with states for providing potable tap water to every rural household of the country in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis.

Following measures have been taken under JJM to facilitate action on water quality aspects at state level: -

- i) While allocating the funds to States / UTs, 10% weightage is given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants.
2. ii) To facilitate implementation of the JJM Schemes, more than 2000 water quality testing laboratories  have  been  set  up  in  the  country  and  an  online  JJM  -  Water  Quality Management Information System (WQMIS) portal has been developed. Besides this, five persons, preferably women are identified and trained from every village for testing the water samples through Field Test Kits (FTKs).
3. iii) Under JJM, while planning for potable water supply to household through tap water connection, priority is  given  to  quality-affected  habitations.  Further,  with  a  view  to provide immediate solution, 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 as an interim measure.

Out of the allocated amount under JJM, up to 2% can be utilized by the states for Water Quality Monitoring  & Surveillance.  Details  of  State-wise  and  year-wise  allocation  are  available  in public domain and can be accessed from the following web link:

https://ejalshakti.gov.in/JJM/JJMReports/Financial/JJMRep\_StatewiseAllocationReleaseExp enditure.aspx

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