Lok Sabha Question No. 1943 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Technology to Treat Water
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1943

TO BE ANSWERED ON - 14.12.2023

Technology to Treat Water

1943. Shrimati Shardaben Anilbhai Patel:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  the  share  of  funds  being  allocated  for  research  to  find  a  suitable  solution  to  develop technologies to treat arsenic-laden water;

(b) the steps taken by the Government to provide proper medical care to arsenic-affected people to reduce the effects of poisoning;

(c) whether it is a fact that the majority of people affected by arsenic contamination in the country live in rural areas and are not aware of the poisoning and possible treatment procedures; and

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to increase awareness for the same?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) to (d) 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),  being  implemented  in  partnership  with  states,  since  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 to 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  07.12.2023,  around  10.53  Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 07.12.2023, out of 19.24 Crore rural households in the country, approximately 13.76 Crore (71.51%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.

Under  JJM,  while  allocating  the  funds  to  States/  UTs,  10%  weightage  is  given  to  the population  residing  in  habitations  affected  by  chemical  contaminants  (includes  Arsenic

affected  habitations).  States/  UTs  have  been  advised  to  plan  and  implement  piped  water supply schemes based on alternative safe water sources for the villages with water quality issues on priority.

It  was  envisaged  that  planning,  implementation  and  commissioning  of  piped  water  supply scheme based on a safe water source in such habitations may take time, therefore, purely as an interim measure, States/ UTs have been advised to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) especially in Arsenic and Fluoride affected habitations to provide potable water to every household to meet their drinking and cooking requirements.

As a result  of  provisions  made  in  the  operational  guidelines  for  the  implementation  of  Jal Jeevan  Mission,  the  number  of  habitations  reported  as  arsenic  affected  in  JJM  IMIS  has decreased from 14,020 habitations on 01.04.2019 to 378 habitations as on 11.12.2023. All these remaining  378  habitations  have  been  provided  with  Community  Water  Purification  Plants (CWPPs) as an interim measure.

Furthermore, for assured delivery of safe water, strengthening, up-gradation, improving the functioning of drinking  water quality testing laboratories technical  and  financial  support  is being given under JJM. As reported by States/ UTs, as on 12.12.2023, there are 2,111 drinking water quality testing laboratories at different levels viz. State, District, sub-division and/ or block level in the country. Out of 2,111 laboratories, 1,328 laboratories have been National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited/ recognized. To encourage water quality testing to ensure potable drinking water supply, States/ UTs have opened water quality testing laboratories to general public for testing of their water samples at a nominal rate.

In order to empower citizens, States/ UTs have been advised to identify and train 5 persons, preferably women, in every village to conduct water quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs)/  bacteriological  vials  at  village  level  and  report  the  same  on  the  Water  Quality Monitoring Information System (WQMIS) portal. So far, as reported by states/UTs, more than 23.40 lakh women have been trained for testing water using FTKs.

The  Government  of  India  is  actively  working  with  academic  institutions  such  as  IITs,  to supplement the efforts of the States by providing advice on various technologies available to address such issues. The research studies are being funded under the scheme 'Research and Development Programme in Water Sector and Implementation of National Water Mission' of Ministry of Jal Shakti. Also, there is a provision  of  funding  water  related  research  activities under Jal Jeevan Mission. In addition, Department  of Science and Technology (DST) has been providing funds for arsenic  removal  and  mitigation technology projects.

In order to provide relief to people affected by the excess arsenic in water and prevent further exposure, technical guidelines for 'Detection, Prevention and Management of Arsenicosis in India' have been  prepared  by  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  and  shared  with  the affected  States  for  use  by    the health authorities and programme managers. These are also to be used for training  of  field functionaries such as medical officers, paramedical workers, etc. The guidelines are available on the websites of Directorate General of Health  Services and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Central  Ground  Water  Board  organizes  various  awareness programme including Public

Interaction Programs (PIP) on local ground water issues, wherein the  stakeholder including the  local public are imparted information on various quality related issues.

In order to create awareness of disease symptoms and prevention of  Arsenicosis,  Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has also shared IEC material with the affected States.

Under JJM,  States/ UTs can utilize up to 2% of their annual allocation of funds under JJM for Water Quality Monitoring &  Surveillance (WQM&S)  activities including awareness generation on water quality issues, water-borne diseases, and health impacts.

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