Lok Sabha Question No. 2929 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Urban Water Crisis
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Sachithanantham R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2929

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2024

## URBAN WATER CRISIS

## 2929. SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  addressing  the  urban  water  crisis  in  the country requires a sophisticated and integrated approach;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)   the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  keeping  in  mind  that  introducing progressive  water  pricing  mechanisms,  reflecting  the  true  scarcity  value  of  water  and  its externalities could promote its conservation and efficient use across urban India?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) 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.

At the start of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (16.8%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 09.12.2024, under Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM)  -  Har  Ghar  Jal,  around  12.11  Crore  additional  rural  households  have been  provided  with  tap  water  connections.  Thus,  as  on  09.12.2024,  out  of  19.35  Crore  rural households in the country, more than 15.34 Crore (79.28%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes and the remaining households are likely to be covered by the States as per their plans.

Further, the works related to Water supply relating to urban areas are being looked after by Ministry of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  and  it  has  informed  that  Water  is  a  state  subject,  management  of water is primarily the responsibility of the State Government. However, Ministry of Housing and Urban  Affairs  has  taken  several  steps  towards  sustainable  management  of  water  in  urban  areas through issuance of various guidelines, implementation of National Missions i.e., Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) & AMRUT 2.0.

## 1. AMRUT

- Launched on June 25, 2015, in 500 selected cities across the country covering around 60% of the  Urban  Population.  AMRUT  focuses  on  development  of  basic  urban  infrastructure  in  the selected cities in the sectors of Water Supply; Sewerage & Septage Management; & other areas. Of the  approved plan size of 77,640  crore, a significant amount of 39,011 crore (~50%) has been allocated for water supply sector.
- In Water Supply sector, ULBs/State may take up projects related to new/ augmentation/rehabilitation  of  water  supply  system;  rejuvenation  of  water  bodies  for  water supply  and  recharge  of  ground  water  etc.  So  far,  1,390  projects  have  been  grounded  worth 43,242  crore  of  which  works  worth  41,134  crore  have  been  physically  completed.  Through these  projects  &  in  convergence  with  other  programmes,  189  lakh  household  water  tap connections have been provided so far.
- In addition, States have also taken up projects related to rainwater harvesting and water bodies rejuvenation under water supply component of AMRUT. 09 water bodies have been taken up for rejuvenation & 7 projects related to rainwater harvesting have been taken up by the States to aid in water conservation.
- In addition, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has formulated guidelines for the guidance of the  States  for  their  adoption suiting  local  conditions.  Adequate  focus  has  been  given  on requirement of rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures in Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 and Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014.

## 2. AMRUT 2.0

- Taking  it  forward,  AMRUT  2.0  has  been  launched  on  1st  October  2021  covering  all  the statutory towns of the country to ensure universal coverage of water supply & make cities 'water secure'  and  also  to  ensure  universal  coverage  of  sewerage  &  septage  management  in  500 AMRUT cities.
- It envisages rejuvenation of water bodies, urban aquifer management, promote recycle & reuse and rainwater harvesting to augment freshwater resources.
- Mission has a reform agenda focused on financial sustainability  and  water  security  of  ULBs through reduction in non-revenue water, recycle/ reuse of 20% treated used water, and efficient town planning etc.
- The Aquifer Management Plan targets to focus on maintaining positive groundwater balance in urban aquifer systems.
- So  far,  under  water  supply  sector,  3,596  projects  worth  1,14,073.65  Crore  and  3,078  Water Body Rejuvenation projects worth 6,159.29 crore have been approved by MoHUA.

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