Lok Sabha Question No. 2941 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-08
Subject: PH Levels of Ground Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2941

ANSWERED ON 08.08.2024

## PH LEVELS OF GROUND WATER

## 2941. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Government has conducted any study/survey/research into the Potential of Hydrogen (pH) levels of ground water in the country;

(b) if so, the details regarding the areas identified in the State of Andhra Pradesh which have a higher than normal range of acidic/alkaline water, thereby making  the ground water dangerous for consumption;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to make sure that the pH levels of water remain within the limits considered safe for consumption especially in the State of Andhra Pradesh;

(d) the total amount of funds allocated/utilised for the purpose of regulating pH levels of ground water in the State of Andhra Pradesh during the last five years; and

(e) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any awareness campaigns on the pH issues of ground water in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  &  (b) The  Central  Ground  Water  Board  (CGWB)  under  the  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  annually generates ground water quality data of the country on a regional scale, including in the state of Andhra Pradesh, as part of its ground water quality monitoring program and various scientific studies wherein samples are  analyzed  for  various  parameters  including  pH.  During  May  2023,  ground  water  samples were collected from 1151 monitoring stations in Andhra Pradesh wherein 8 nos. of locations showed pH less than the permissible limit of 6.5 while 8 nos. of locations shows pH higher than the desirable limit of  8.5.  The  details  of  the  location  in  Andhra  Pradesh  which  have  a  higher  than  normal  range  of acidic/alkaline water is given in Annexure -I.

( c) Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) since August,  2019  to  provide  potable  tap  water  supply  of  adequate  quantity,  of  prescribed  quality  and  on regular & long-term basis to every rural household in the country. Drinking Water being a state subject, the responsibility of planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply  schemes,  including  those  under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  lies  with  State/UT  Governments.  The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards' BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmarks for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes.  Further,  under  JJM,  while  planning  water  supply  schemes  to  provide  tap  water  supply  to households, priority is given to quality-affected habitations. 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.

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  their  drinking  and  cooking requirements.

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. The State-wise details of water quality test reported through WQMIS are available in public domain.

In addition to JJM, the government of India has taken several other initiatives for monitoring and improving the quality of water, including ground water resources in the country. Some of the important measures are:-

-  Data on ground water quality available with CGWB are made available in public domain through reports as well as through the web site (http://www.cgwb.gov.in) for use by various stakeholders. The  data  is  also  shared  with  concerned  State  Governments  for  taking  necessary  remedial measures.
-  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 in ground water.

(d) Under  the  JJM  or  other  central  government  schemes,  funds  are  not  released  separately  for regulating pH levels in ground and drinking water. Overall funds allocated, drawn and utilized for the state of Andhra Pradesh under JJM in the last five years is provided in Annexure -II.

(e) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has conducted 1439 nos. of Public Interaction Program (PIP)  throughout  the  country  that  covers  various  aspects  of  groundwater  management,  including  its quality.  These  programs  are  designed  to  educate  the  public  about  the  importance  of  groundwater, different water quality parameters, including pH and the measures needed to ensure its conservation & safe use.

## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2941 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.08.2024 REGARDING 'PH LEVELS OF GROUND WATER'.

## Details of the locations showing pH less than Permissible Limit (BIS) of 6.5 in the State of Andhra Pradesh

|   Sl. No. | District   | Mandal        | Location        |
|-----------|------------|---------------|-----------------|
|         1 | Chittoor   | Karvetinagar  | Karvethinagaram |
|         2 | Kadapa     | Khajipet      | Dumpalagattu    |
|         3 | Eluru      | Mudinepalli   | Bominampadu     |
|         4 | Eluru      | Pedapadu      | Vempadu         |
|         5 | Eluru      | Peddapadu     | Peddapadu       |
|         6 | Krishna    | Machilipatnam | Chinnapuram     |
|         7 | Krishna    | Machilipatnam | Sultan Nagaram  |
|         8 | Krishna    | Gudivada      | Moturu          |

## Details  of  the  locations  showing  pH  more  than  Permissible  Limit  (BIS)  of  8.5  in  the  State  of Andhra Pradesh

|   Sl. No. | District   | Mandal        | Location            |
|-----------|------------|---------------|---------------------|
|         1 | Palnadu    | Amaravthi     | Amaravati           |
|         2 | Ananthapur | Yellanur      | Kalluru             |
|         3 | Chittoor   | Irala         | Kanipakam           |
|         4 | Nellore    | Kondapuram    | Bhimavarapupadu     |
|         5 | Prakasham  | Thallur       | East Gangavaram     |
|         6 | Kadapa     | B.Kodur       | Prabhalaveedu       |
|         7 | NTR        | Veerullapadu  | Narasimha Rao Palem |
|         8 | Bapatla    | Santamaguluru | Santamaguluru       |

*****

ANNEXURE-II

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2941  TO  BE  ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.08.2024 REGARDING 'PH LEVELS OF GROUND WATER'.

Jal Jeevan Mission: Funds allocated, drawn and reported utilization in last 5 years with respect to Andhra Pradesh*

(in Rs. Cr)

| Year                       |   Central Allocation |   Expenditure out of Central Allocation |   Expenditure under State Share |
|----------------------------|----------------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2020-21                    |               790.48 |                                  427.73 |                          180.97 |
| 2021-22                    |              3182.88 |                                  234.93 |                          235.39 |
| 2022-23                    |              3458.2  |                                  305.08 |                           98.75 |
| 2023-24                    |              6530.49 |                                  862.09 |                          940.04 |
| 2024-25 (up to 04/08/2024) |              2520.97 |                                   74.94 |                           68.47 |

*Source : JJM-IMIS