Lok Sabha Question No. 2376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: Quality of Water in Punjab
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2376

ANSWERED ON -13/03/2025

## QUALITY OF WATER IN PUNJAB

## 2376. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that 12% of the population in Punjab is dissatisfied with the quality of water as reported by the Ministry and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) the actions taken/being taken by the Government to address this issue;

(c)  whether the Government has conducted any investigations into the causes of water quality issues in Punjab and if so, the details of the findings thereof; and

(d) whether the Government has any specific plans to improve the quality of water in Punjab to address public dissatisfaction and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Government of India is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) - Har Ghar Jal, since August, 2019, in partnership with States, to make provision of potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on regular & long-term basis to rural households. 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.  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.

To assess the functionality of tap water connection provided under the mission, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, undertakes assessment through an independent third-party agency, based on standard statistical sampling. The functionality of tap water connections is assessed on three parameters viz. adequate quantity, prescribed quality and regularity. During the functionality

assessment conducted from February, 2022 to April, 2022, it was found that 86% of households had working tap connections. Out of these, 85% were getting water in adequate quantity, 80% were getting water  regularly  as  per  the  schedule  of  water  supply  for  their  piped  water  supply scheme, and 87% of households were receiving water as per the prescribed water quality standards. In Punjab, it was found that 95% of households had working tap connections. Out of these, 96% were getting water in adequate quantity, 82% were getting water regularly as per the schedule of water supply for their piped water supply scheme, and 94% of households were receiving water as per  the  prescribed  water  quality  standards.  The  details  and  the  data  of  the  said  functionality assessment has also been shared with the respective states/UTs for taking remedial measures to maintain water service delivery as per JJM norms.

As per the Operational Guidelines, States/ UTs can utilize up to 2% of their annual allocation of funds under JJM for Water Quality Monitoring & Surveillance (WQM&S) activities, inter-alia, which includes setting up and strengthening of water quality testing laboratories, procurement of equipment,  instruments, chemicals, glassware, consumables,  hiring of  skilled  manpower, surveillance  by  community  using  field  test  kits  (FTKs),  awareness  generation,  educational programmes on water quality, accreditation/recognition of laboratories, etc. 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 on JJM Dashboard and can also be accessed at:

## https://ejalshakti.gov.in/WQMIS/Main/report

In order to empower the communities to monitor the water quality States/ UTs have also been advised to identify and train 5 persons, preferably women, in every village to conduct water quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs) at village level and report the same on the WQMIS portal. So far, as reported by States/UTs on WQMIS, as on date, more than 24.81 lakh women (including 63,422 in Punjab) have been trained for testing water using FTKs.

The Government of India is fully committed to ensuring public satisfaction and full functionality of tap water connections under JJM to address water quality issues in all States/ UTs including Punjab  by  conducting  various  field  visits  by  experts  to  assess  water  quality  concerns  and recommend solutions, through periodic review meeting and encouraging the adoption of advance water treatment technologies where required.

A 'Citizen Corner' was also developed on the JJM Dashboard. The corner included display of water quality test results in the public domain to further create awareness and build confidence among people about the quality of water supplies through the PWS in rural areas including Punjab.

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