Lok Sabha Question No. 74 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-07
Subject: Drinking Water Crisis in Karnataka
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: D.K. Suresh, Sumalatha Ambareesh

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *74 ANSWERED ON 07.12.2023

## Drinking Water Crisis in Karnataka

- *74. SHRI D.K. SURESH: SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government is aware that Karnataka is facing drinking water crisis due to drought situation prevailing in the State;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Union Government has allocated and released funds to meet the drinking water needs of the people of the drought hit areas; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER FOR JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

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

## Statement referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *74 due for reply on 07.12.2023.

(a) to (d)

To ensure potable water supply to all rural households, since August 2019, Government of India, in  partnership  with  States/  UTs,  is  implementing  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  (JJM).  The  aim  of  the Mission is to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in adequate quantity (55 lpcd), of prescribed quality (BIS 10:500) and on a regular and long-term basis.

At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, 24.51 lakh (24.23%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections in Karnataka. Since then, an additional 47.14 lakh rural households have been provided with tap water connections over  the last four years  under  JJM.  Thus,  as  on  04.12.2023,  out  of  101.16  lakh  rural  households  in  Karnataka, around 71.65 lakh (70.83%) households are reported to have tap water supply.

As reported by the State of Karnataka, for the kharif season in 2023, 223 out of 236 talukas of the State have been declared as drought affected, out of which 196 talukas have been categorized as severely affected due to errant rainfall during monsoon season.

JJM  follows  a  universal  saturation  approach  and  covers  all  districts  in  the  country,  including those that may be declared as drought affected in any year during the implementation period of the Mission. Following provisions are made under the JJM for mitigating the risks of disruption of piped water supplies, including during the periods of drought -

- Any  water  supply  scheme  undertaken  under  the  JJM  is  approved  only  after  the recommendation  of  a  Source  Finding  Committee  of  the  respective  state  government, consisting  of  experts,  to  the  effect  that  the  identified  water  source  through  which  the scheme is planned, has sufficient yield for sustaining supplies of water as per norm, over the design life of the scheme.
- In  surface  water  schemes,  the  priority  is  accorded  to  allocation  of  water  for  drinking water.
- Under JJM, provisions have also been made for development/ strengthening/ augmentation  of  drinking  water  sources;  and  infrastructure  for  bulk  transfer  of  water, treatment,  and  distribution  systems  in  water  deficit  drought-prone  and  desert  areas without dependable ground water sources apart from creation of in-village water supply infrastructure.
- In  addition,  provisions  for  taking  up  augmentation  and  strengthening  of  local  drinking water sources in convergence with other schemes at village level viz. MGNREGS, 15 th Finance  Commission  tied  grants  to  RLBs/  PRIs,  Integrated  Watershed  Management Programme  (IWMP),  State  schemes,  District  Mineral  Development  Fund,  CSR  funds, community contribution, etc. is also envisaged under the JJM.

Drinking  water  is  a  state  subject.  Therefore,  the  responsibility  to  plan,  design,  approve, implement, operate, and maintain water supply schemes, including in areas that may be affected by  drought  at  any  point  in  time,  lies  with  States.  The  year-wise  details  of  funds  allocated, released, and utilized by Karnataka under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), for making provision of tap water supplies to all rural households in the state as per norms of 55 liter per capita per day on a regual basis, including those in the areas affected by drought in any year,are as under:

(Amount in  Crore)

|          | Central share   | Central share     | Central share           | Central share        | Central share        | Expenditure under State share   |
|----------|-----------------|-------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------|
| Year     | Opening Balance | Budget allocation | Fund drawn by the State | Total available fund | Reported utilization |                                 |
| 2019-20  | 26.61           | 546.06            | 546.06                  | 572.67               | 492.24               | 297.87                          |
| 2020-21  | 80.42           | 1,189.40          | 446.36                  | 526.78               | 349.62               | 416.38                          |
| 2021-22  | 177.16          | 5,008.80          | 2,504.40                | 2,681.56             | 1,418.56             | 1,557.92                        |
| 2022-23  | 1,263.00        | 5,451.85          | 2,725.93                | 3,988.93             | 2,778.72             | 3,196.96                        |
| 2023-24* | 1,270.33        | 12,623.37         | 2,483.31                | 3,753.64             | 1,585.45             | 1,576.43                        |

*As on 04.12.2023

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