Lok Sabha Question No. 96 (STARRED), answered on 2024-02-08
Subject: Drinking Water Crisis in Maharashtra
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *96 (16 th  position) TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2024

## Drinking Water Crisis in Maharashtra

†*96. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  serious  crisis  of  drinking  water  arising  due  to continuously depleting water level across various States of the country;
- (b) if so, the appropriate steps taken by the Government to deal with the said situation;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Government  in  Ramtek-Nagpur Parliamentary Constituency and remote villages in this regard;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  funds  spent  under  various  drinking  water  schemes  in  various  districts  of Maharashtra including Ramtek-Nagpur district during the last five years, district-wise;
- (e)  whether the Government proposes to implement any special scheme regarding availability of drinking water in adequate quantity; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (f) A Statement of reply is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *96 due for reply on 08.02.2024

(a) to (f) Government of India is committed to make provision for safe & potable tap water supply in  adequate  quantity,  of  prescribed  quality  and  on  a  regular  &  long-term  basis  to  all  rural households in the  country.  Towards this end, the Government of  India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission  (JJM),  to  be  implemented  in  partnership  with  states  including  Maharashtra,  in  August 2019.  Drinking  Water  is  a  state  subject,  and  hence,  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.

Significant progress has been made in the country since the launch of Jal Jeevan Mission, towards enhancing access to tap water for rural households. 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 06.02.2024, around 11.02 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 06.02.2024, out of 19.27 Crore  rural  households  in  the  country,  approximately  14.25  Crore  (73.98%)  households  are reported to have tap water supply.

Similarly,  good  progress  has  been  made  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra  including  Ramtek-Nagpur district.  At  the  start  of  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  in  August  2019,  only  48.43  lakh  (33.03%)  rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by Maharashtra as on 06.02.2024,  around  74.27  lakh  additional  rural  households  have  been  provided  with  tap  water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 06.02.2024, out of 1.46 Crore rural households in the State, approximately  1.22  Crore  (83.68%)  households  are  reported  to  have  tap  water  supply.  Nagpur district stands at 6 th position in the State with 96.91% coverage.

Development  of  reliable  drinking  water  sources  and/  or  augmentation  of  existing  sources  to provide  long-term  sustainability  of  water  supply  system  in  villages,  is  an  integral  part  of  Jal Jeevan Mission. Provision has been made for the preparation of Village Action Plan (VAP) by village  community,  which inter alia includes  strengthening  of  drinking  water  sources  in convergence with other schemes such as MGNREGS, Finance Commission grants to rural local bodies/ PRIs, MP & MLA's Local Area Development Fund, District Mineral Development Fund, CSR fund, etc.

The  year-wise  details  of  funds  allocated,  released,  and  utilized  by  Maharashtra  under  Jal  Jeevan Mission (JJM) during the last five years are as under:

## (Amount in Rs. Crore)

|         | Central share   | Central share     | Central share           | Central share        | Central share        | Expenditure       |
|---------|-----------------|-------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|-------------------|
| Year    | Opening Balance | Budget allocation | Fund drawn by the State | Total available fund | Reported utilization | under State share |
| 2019-20 | 248.12          | 847.97            | 345.28                  | 593.4                | 308.04               | 428.14            |
| 2020-21 | 285.35          | 1,828.92          | 457.23                  | 742.58               | 473.59               | 324.16            |
| 2021-22 | 268.99          | 7,064.41          | 1,666.64                | 1,935.63             | 377.98               | 477.98            |

| 2022-23   | 1,557.65   | 7,831.25   | 3,915.62   | 5,473.27   | 3,109.69   | 2,972.28   |
|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|
| 2023-24*  | 2,363.58   | 21,465.88  | 5,583.20   | 7,946.78   | 5,578.24   | 5,800.77   |

* As on 05.02.2024

District-wise information related to schemes planned/ implemented, funds allocated, released, and utilized is not maintained at Government of India level.

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